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.

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Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, Ellinor Michel & Professor Joe Cain

Artist & Printmaker, Sarah Hamilton

Artist & Printmaker, Sarah Hamilton

Restaurant owner, Effisio Fronteddu

Restaurant owner, Effisio Fronteddu

Sisters, Laura & Jess Tilli, cafe owners

Sisters, Laura & Jess Tilli, cafe owners

Pilates Instructor, Matthew Attwell

Pilates Instructor, Matthew Attwell

Shoe shop owners, Ila & Heena Patel

Shoe shop owners, Ila & Heena Patel

Robbie Gibson (holding cheque on right), library campaigner

Robbie Gibson (holding cheque on right), library campaigner

Jewellery designer, Tine Bladbjerg

Jewellery designer, Tine Bladbjerg

David Hibbs, bicycle shop owner

David Hibbs, bicycle shop owner

Fr. John Pritchard, Church of England Vicar

Fr. John Pritchard, Church of England Vicar

Beth Mander, ceramicist and market stall holder

Beth Mander, ceramicist and market stall holder

Shou Fang, boutique owner

Shou Fang, boutique owner

Gavin Rookledge, leather craftsman and bookbinder

Gavin Rookledge, leather craftsman and bookbinder

Friends of The Subway, Karl Richter & Jules Hussey

Friends of The Subway, Karl Richter & Jules Hussey

Cheese & Wine Merchant, Manish Utton-Mishra

Cheese & Wine Merchant, Manish Utton-Mishra

Milliner, Dawn Wilson

Milliner, Dawn Wilson

Methodist Minister, reverend Imran Malik

Methodist Minister, reverend Imran Malik

Architect, Laura Clark

Architect, Laura Clark

Restaurant owner, Will Ellner

Restaurant owner, Will Ellner

Artist, Lene Bladbjerg

Artist, Lene Bladbjerg

Vintage clothing shop owner, Paul Davies

Vintage clothing shop owner, Paul Davies

Brazilian Cafe owner, Marcos Camarotte

Brazilian Cafe owner, Marcos Camarotte

Park Ranger, Adam Jenkins

Park Ranger, Adam Jenkins

Fireplace restorers, the Wright family

Fireplace restorers, the Wright family

Restaurant owner, Huong Nguyen

Restaurant owner, Huong Nguyen

Author, Tom Brown

Author, Tom Brown

Toyshop owner, Emma Astles

Toyshop owner, Emma Astles

Menswear Designer, Simon Carter

Menswear Designer, Simon Carter

Publican, Steve Boyd

Publican, Steve Boyd

Founders of Crystal Palace Market, Rachel de Thample & Karen Jones

Founders of Crystal Palace Market, Rachel de Thample & Karen Jones

Furniture shop owner, Freddie Oke

Furniture shop owner, Freddie Oke

Vintage Salon/Spa owner, Renee Thornley

Vintage Salon/Spa owner, Renee Thornley

Stained glass artist, Vince Reid

Stained glass artist, Vince Reid

Hardware store owners, Raju & Daxita Patel

Hardware store owners, Raju & Daxita Patel

Metalwork artist, Yasemen Hussein

Metalwork artist, Yasemen Hussein

Vintage store owner, Andy Stem

Vintage store owner, Andy Stem

Artist, Angelique Hartigan

Artist, Angelique Hartigan

Chef, food blogger, Anita Field

Chef, food blogger, Anita Field

Anerley Hill Improvements campaigners, Ellinor Michel, Renee Thornley, Amanda Sciberras & Gill Wing

Anerley Hill Improvements campaigners, Ellinor Michel, Renee Thornley, Amanda Sciberras & Gill Wing

Boxing champion and gym owner, Duke McKenzie

Boxing champion and gym owner, Duke McKenzie

Dressmaker, Catherine Shaw

Dressmaker, Catherine Shaw

Housing campaigner, Nicola Curtis

Housing campaigner, Nicola Curtis