January 2026

We started the New Year with a talk about William Thompson by Alan Dawson. William Thompson was a 19th century bare-knuckle fighter better known as Bendigo.

He was born in the centre of Nottingham in 1811 and for most of his life lived within a few hundred yards of his birthplace. He was the survivor of triplets and his early years were hard. After the death of his father when he was a teenager, he ended up in the workhouse with his mother.

Despite this, he became a champion fighter known throughout the world. In Australia there is even town named Bendigo.

After suffering a knee injury, he had to retire and ended up in the House of Correction on numerous occasions due to his drinking. Towards the end of his life he met up with a preacher who turned him from alcohol to preaching.

He tragically died following a fall at home in 1880. His funeral procession followed through Nottingham to Bath Street rest gardens where his tomb can be seen surmounted by a lion.