Julian Roup - books, speeches, press releases, talks and shortly a fifth title published.

Julian Roup is the author of four books: a non-fiction children’s book, ‘A Day In the Life of an MP’; ‘A Fisherman in the Saddle’ which is a memoir of growing up in South Africa,; and ‘Boerejood’ which explores the so-called ‘miracle’ of the peaceful change to democratic rule in South Africa in 1994 and ‘Life in a time of Plague’ about the Covid-19 pandemic. A new book, Into the Secret Heart of the Forest will shortly be published. It is a love letter to Ashdown Forest after a forty year affair.

Some Reviews for A Fisherman in the Saddle:

The Cape Times – Robyn Cohen: “This is story telling charged with raw emotion and always a deep appreciation for the sheer beauty and the enduring magic of nature which transcends politics, implosion of families, emigration. Horses, the author says became ‘my nation, my friends, my identity, my medicine. When I am in the saddle I’m home.’

 Volksblad – Charles Smith: “This book is a meditation on joy. This is surely one of the most beautiful books that you could pick up. One swallows the fishing stories hook line and sinker. If you want a book that will let you cast a line out into the sea while you sit alone to read, this is the book for you. It is about horses and fishing but also about love and life.”

Pretoria News – John Topping: “This book is quite simply enriching.”

 Getaway Magazine – Dave Bristow: “Every now and then a gem of a new book lands on my desk: sometimes but rarely a diamond. This is one. I laughed I cried. I was deeply moved. This is among the best books I have ever read about fishing, horses, growing up, the pain of maturity, leaving one’s homeland and the things that make up the richness of life. My gosh, Julian Roup has written something damn wonderful here. It is a very fine book. You caught a big one here Mr Roup. Inspiring, sense of place and of wonder.“

‘Boerejood’ received critical praise by many, including the Financial Times in the UK, which described it as: “Brilliant, engaged, intelligent, personal….and funny”. The FT ran a 2,000-word feature on the book as its weekend magazine front cover story in May 2006.

Life in a Time of Plague: The book has won plaudits from the Whitbread Prize winning Irish poet and Oxford don, Bernard O’Donoghue, author of Seamus Heaney and the Language of Poetry (1995), who says: "It is a wonderful account of the time of coronavirus; I especially like the reverie at the end with its sense of time regained in that Proustean way. The writer, Julian Roup has a great gift for evocation and description.”

 Former Gardening Editor of The Times, George Plumptre (Chairman of the National Garden Scheme) says of the book: This is the best diary of the Covid-19 pandemic – witty, incisive, irreverent, iconoclastic.”

Julian Roup has a background which combines Marketing, Journalism and Public Relations.

Born in South Africa he lived in Cape Town for the first 30 years of his life. He has a Journalism Degree from Rhodes University in South Africa and worked subsequently at the Cape Times and the Cape Argus before emigrating to England in 1980.

He founded his own PR Consultancy, Bendigo Communications, in 1993. Clients have included: Virgin Atlantic, Bonhams, Bradford & Bingley, and the Development Agency for the Western Cape in South Africa. He has also created PR campaigns for the British Army, Black Horse Agencies, Christie's, the Government of Malta, the London Underground, British Rail InterCity, NSPCC, and the RSPCA, amongst others.

For 12 years he worked as Director of Press and Marketing for Bonhams International, the fine art auction company.

BENDIGO COMMUNICATIONS

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US

 Virgin Atlantic: “On the day that I fly out on Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight to Johannesburg, I wanted to write to you to thank you for the part you have played in making this route launch such a huge success. You have been a constant source of sound advice and assistance in seeking out both commercial and marketing opportunities which have enhanced our penetration and image in the South African market. Thanks too for your invaluable help with our launch events at the London Arena to the corporate and travel markets. Your script for the presentation was outstanding. Happily for us your creative talents extend beyond the boundaries of public relations and marketing! I look forward to working with you on future projects.”

Bradford & Bingley: “I have always looked for tangible results from our Public Relations activity and am pleased to say that I have always been able to find these since we started working with Bendigo Communications in July 1993. Their success is entirely deserved and is a direct result of the personal ability, enthusiasm and tenaciousness that they bring to bear on their work.”

RSPCA: “I was so impressed by the way Bendigo helped the RSPCA’s enormously busy Press Office to weather a crisis period of staff shortage that I extended its involvement. Any team which could perform so well, in a context with which it was previously wholly unfamiliar, that it earned the trust and respect both of its new working colleagues and also of the senior management, must be worth recommending.”

Bonhams: “During his decade with Bonhams, Julian Roup proved himself to be an inspired director of Press, promoting the company with skill, passion and expertise. He always went the extra mile.”

WESGRO, South Africa: “A quick note to thank you for the magnificent effort you put in to make our recent series of seminars in the United Kingdom such a success, particularly in getting us so much positive exposure in the British media. I understand that getting us onto the BBC’s Today Programme on Radio Four was something of a coup. The result has been tremendous!”

Brooks | Classic Car Auctioneers: “Bendigo has worked closely with me to promote the sale of classic cars over a period of eight years, when I directed the Classic Car Department at Christie’s and when I subsequently launched my own company. Bendigo’s strengths are great energy and enthusiasm and an undoubted understanding of the international news media and an ability to generate huge coverage through it. Bendigo is extremely creative and persistent on behalf of clients, and as a result, very successful.”

EAST HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL:“Finding a company that understands your communication needs is not always easy. But I have found Bendigo to be flexible, fast, professional and effective in producing the results I want. I have no hesitation in recommending Bendigo to colleagues within local government or elsewhere in the public sector.”

The Sherlock Holmes Festival: “I write to express our thanks for a job well done. The results of the Festival have been beyond our wildest expectations. Looking at the massive local, regional, and national press, radio and TV exposure in the UK and the coverage in the USA, Japan and Germany, we are all astonished. Your understanding of the media is hugely impressive. Crowborough owes you and your company a debt of gratitude.”

Sabi Sabi Game Reserve | South Africa: “I just want to say how grateful and appreciative we are of the Virgin Atlantic lead you gave us earlier this year. This has materialised into substantial promotional and marketing opportunities for Sabi Sabi and has given us unprecedented media coverage which has led to a high profile in the UK.”

T-Shirt Connection: “Bendigo has worked very closely with my company. Although I was initially sceptical about the effectiveness of PR, Bendigo has obtained significant coverage for us in the target trade journals. Bendigo has been totally flexible in all matters, not a common attribute to find within the realms of tradtional Public Relations in my experience. We have high expectations that Bendigo’s open mindedness and energy will bring us ever more co

Phillips Auctions New York: “Julian Roup handled our publicity, at very short notice, for my first exploratory business trip to Africa. We were very pleased with the amount of publicity and interest he generated.”

E&R Cyzer Gallery | London, UK: “Julian has assisted us with a number of campaigns for exhibitions held at the gallery as well as the Paris Biennale. He is always highly efficient and very passionate about helping us achieve maximum worldwide coverage. We have had a very positive experience with him due to his professionalism, expertise and willingness to go the extra mile.”

Simon Hope, Chairman of H&H Classics “Julian Roup stands out because he achieves so much. He is the consummate professional. I would recommend him to anyone.”

The Pedestal: “Working with Julian has opened up channels that we had not previously thought about and his market knowledge has given us a clear advantage. As a new business it is reassuring to know that we are reaching the right audience from launch and we have been delighted with the coverage we have received.”

“Julian Roup is one of the best PRs in the business. Always available (even late on a Sunday night). Goes the extra mile for both journalist and client, and understands – unlike many PRs – the importance of an angle to a story.”

Eric Turquin: CABINET TURQUIN, LEADING OLD MASTER DEALERSHIP, PARIS, FRANCE

Julian, We were so happy with your professional help with the sale of the Caravaggio that I will recommend you to anybody in the art world and outside. Bendigo has my support. Kind regards, ERIC TURQUIN