I moved to Crystal Palace nearly ten years ago now, and it is, without doubt, the most neighbourly, community spirited place I’ve ever lived. Perhaps it’s the hilltop location, or the fact that, straddling the border of four London boroughs, it is neglected by them all, requiring it to shout all the more loudly to be heard. Almost everyone seems to be involved in one campaign or another, whether it’s to save the local library or housing estate, prevent intrusive development, or restore our local landmarks. It’s largely independent high street, its diversity, and its thriving creative community also add to the area’s distinctive flavour. Partly as a result of my local blog, The Triangle SE19 , and interest in many of the local initiatives, I’ve got to know a great many locals. Let me introduce you to a few of them.
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, Ellinor Michel & Professor Joe Cain
Artist & Printmaker, Sarah Hamilton
Restaurant owner, Effisio Fronteddu
Sisters, Laura & Jess Tilli, cafe owners
Pilates Instructor, Matthew Attwell
Shoe shop owners, Ila & Heena Patel
Robbie Gibson (holding cheque on right), library campaigner
Jewellery designer, Tine Bladbjerg
David Hibbs, bicycle shop owner
Fr. John Pritchard, Church of England Vicar
Beth Mander, ceramicist and market stall holder
Shou Fang, boutique owner
Gavin Rookledge, leather craftsman and bookbinder
Friends of The Subway, Karl Richter & Jules Hussey
Cheese & Wine Merchant, Manish Utton-Mishra
Milliner, Dawn Wilson
Methodist Minister, reverend Imran Malik
Architect, Laura Clark
Restaurant owner, Will Ellner
Artist, Lene Bladbjerg
Vintage clothing shop owner, Paul Davies
Brazilian Cafe owner, Marcos Camarotte
Park Ranger, Adam Jenkins
Fireplace restorers, the Wright family
Restaurant owner, Huong Nguyen
Author, Tom Brown
Toyshop owner, Emma Astles
Menswear Designer, Simon Carter
Publican, Steve Boyd
Founders of Crystal Palace Market, Rachel de Thample & Karen Jones
