Sport in the Crystal Palace

How this book came about.
The Crystal Palace has and always will have a special place in my heart. This area of South London was my playground as a child, not just the Palace grounds but the entire area surrounding it. People overseas probably have not heard of Anerley, Penge or South Norwood, but they have more than likely heard of the Crystal Palace.

My first recollections of the Palace were the Prisoners of War. I vaguely remember them walking along the pavement directly outside the Palace fencing. They wore a greenish jump-suit with a large yellow circle or target on their backs. Although there were a large number of prisoners, there were very few guards.

The Crystal Palace is a truly wonderful place with its prehistoric animals, the television tower, the motor racing circuit and the athletic track; it even had its own zoo at one time.

In 1985 I was living in Arlington, Texas. While on a trip home to the Palace I was asked if I would represent the Crystal Palace Foundation at a special ceremony to open Infomart, a replica of the Crystal Palace in Dallas, Texas.

My father used to have his hair cut at Eric’s Barber Shop at 84 Anerley Road, London. SE19, it was the meeting place where the Foundation was originally formed in April 1979.

TheCrystal Palace Foundation

Preserving the history of the Crystal Palace

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Sport in the Crystal Palace

The
Crystal Palace
Foundation