"The Endurance of Ben" is a new book, which recounts the incredible story of the Criterion's legendary life President, Geoff Bennett. Geoff directed a mammoth 74 productions at the theatre between 1955 and 2010, and played a huge role in the establishment and subsequent success of the Criterion over 7 decades. But before the Criterion took centre stage, Geoff had already been engaged - as many of his age had - in a very different theatre.
Written by his son Rich, the book chronicles the astonishing true story of his father's experience during World War2. Enlisting in the RAF in 1942, Geoff became a navigator in a Lancaster bomber, flying into the heart of Nazi Germany where the life expectancy of aircrew was brutally short. After nine harrowing missions, Geoff’s Lancaster was shot down over France. What followed was a descent into the darkest chapters of the war. From evading capture with the help of the French Resistance to eventual betrayal and imprisonment, Geoff’s journey led him through the notorious Fresnes Prison, and into the unimaginable horrors of Buchenwald concentration camp.
This gripping memoir reveals the hidden history of the 168 Allied airmen illegally held at Buchenwald. It details their secret pact, the KLB Club, their struggle to maintain military discipline in the face of starvation and execution, and their eventual transfer to Stalag Luft III. Through the bitter cold of the Long March and the chaos of liberation, Geoff’s story is a testament to the unbreakable human spirit.
The book is available through Amazon, both as a hardback and as an ebook. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1808961811
