Bendigo Lounge, Beeston

William Abednego "Bendigo" Thompson (b. 1811) died on 23 August 1880 aged 69, after falling down the stairs of his home in Beeston. The fall had fractured ribs, which punctured his lungs, though it took seven weeks before he died. His funeral procession was a mile long and thousands lined the streets. The Times published his obituary nationally. He was buried in his mother's grave, marked by a stone in the former burial grounds at Bath Street Rest Gardens (just near Victoria Leisure Centre). It is the only memorial not to have been moved during redevelopment and bears the inscription;

"In life always brave, Fighting like a Lion; In Death like a Lamb, Tranquil in Zion".

He had apparently moved to Beeston to avoid heavy drinking and mixing with the wrong sort.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Thompson_(boxer))

Beeston Civic Society erected a blue plaque to Bendigo at the site of his former home at 92 Wollaton Road, Beeston on the 11th October 2011 "All-England champion bare-knuckle prize-fighter, reformed drunkard and evangelist retired to a cottage on this site".(https://beestoncivicsociety.org.uk/blue-plaques-update-to-3lst-january-2014/)

[Broxtowe Borough Council; Beeston West Ward / Nottinghamshire County Council; Beeston Central & Rylands Division / Broxtowe Parliamentary Constituency]