EVENTS NOTES

Crystal Palace Campaign: REVIEWS AND NOTES ON PAST EVENTS


 

Expo 2005, Japan
Paxton exhibition London Garden Museum December 2004
OPEN DAY: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre took place on Sunday 20 March 2005; Full Details of those events - click Open Day.
Nunhead to the "Screaming Alice": 50th anniversary of the last train journey along the line from Nunhead to Crystal Palace in 1954 - roll up! 2004 - Information on the High Level Station.
25th Birthday Picnic: Sunday 18th July 2004
The anniversary of the death of Joseph Paxton - June 2002
A Celebration in Photography - Wendy May Flower May/June 2002



What the Victorians did for us (October 2001, BBC TWO)
Party in the Park (13/5/01-Dulwich Park event)



Events 2000 - list of CPC events attended etc
Liquor Licence Application - 27/28 N0v 2000
Tree Funeral, Nov. 2000 (CP Park, London)
Bromley Carnival 2000 ( Norman Park, London)
Victorian Day 2000 (Crystal Palace Park, London)
Coin Street Festival 2000 (Coin Street, London)
Happy First Birthday, Boycott UCI group (The Empire, Leicester Square, London)
CPC Public Meeting, Feb. 2000 (Kingsdale School, London)



March for the Park, Oct. 1999 (Crystal Palace Park to The Empire, Leicester Square, London)
BBC Promenade Concert, Aug. 1999 (Albert Hall, Lon don)
The Alternative Crystal Palace Exhibition, Aug 1999 (Upper Norwood Library, London)
Celebrity Concert, CPC, Summer 1999 (Dulwich College Hall, London)
UCI visit demo., Jun. 1999 (UCI, Manchester)
Around the Park, Around the clock, May 1999 (CP Park, London)
Public Meeting with Tessa Jowell, May 99 (Kingsdale School, London)
Demonstration, Mar 1999 (Anerley Roundabout, London)
Demonstration continued, Mar 1999
Court of Appeal Hearing, Dec. 1998
CPC Auction, Dec. 1998 (Antiques Arcade, Jasper Road, London)
History Hunters, Nov. 1998 (T.V. Channel 4)

Date

Event

22 July 2008

Peterborough Museum

Address: Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF

Tel: 01733 343329

Mon to Sat 10am to 5pm

Mondays during term time the museum is closed

The Victorians - what did they do for us?

They brought us railways, photography, the public loo - and the Great British Seaside Holiday! So Peterborough Museum is launching a special exhibition on 22nd July celebrating all things Victorian.

 

Policeman ---------------------------------------- Truncheon

17 February 2008

Crystal Palace Park walkabout - free:

Celebration of the 199th Anniversary of Charles Darwin - details...


CRYSTAL PALACE AT EXPO 2005

The Great Exhibition of 1851 in Crystal Palace at Hyde Park heralded the start of an expo-era!
The latest World Expo opens on March 25th 2005 in Aichi, Japan.
A series of panels depicting expo history are now on site.
Here's a picture of the Crystal Palace panel at:

http://www.ursocreative.com/expo2005linimo/041129-53s.jpg

The man who took the photo is Urso who has just won the competition to design the exteriors of the expo shuttle trains. He set up a website a few years back "World's Fair History, Architecture and Memorabelia"

http://www.expomuseum.com/

Its well worth a visit.

from: John Greatrex


April to December 2004

10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

 

 

Sir Joseph Paxton
(1803 - 1865)

MUSEUM OF GARDEN HISTORY

 

 

Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB

TEL: (020) 7401 8865 FAX: (020) 7401 8869

E-MAIL: info@museumgardenhistory.org

WEB SITE: http://www.cix.co.uk/~museumgh/index.htm

OPENING HOURS : Open daily 10:30 am - 5:00 pm.

ADMISSION: Suggested donation £3.00 per adult, and £2.50 concessions.

HOW TO GET TO THE MUSEUM: Buses, Lambeth Road C10, 3 and 344. Lambeth Palace Road 77 and 507 (507 weekdays only). Underground/BR, Waterloo or Victoria then bus 507 from either station, or walk from Lambeth North, Vauxhall or Westminster.

The world's first Museum of Garden History is at the restored church of St Mary-at- Lambeth next to Lambeth Palace, the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Just across the Thames is the Palace of Westminster and the Houses of Parliament and a little further on is Tate Britain.

 

 

25th Birthday Picnic

Sunday 18th July 2004

The Crystal Palace Foundation is 25 years old and has an open invitation to join them in the celebration. Meet at the museum around 5pm and when it closes the party will go up to the top site for a picnic.

"What's the favourite CPF activity you took part in down the years? If you've any photo's of events or visits do bring them along on the day and meet up with friend you may not have seen for years and share your memories."

"Bring your own food... Bring your own CPF mug and toast the past, present and future......."

(text,info,drg. - John Greatrex, CPF)

 



The anniversary of the death of Joseph Paxton.

Saturday

8th June 2002

1:30 p.m.

The anniversary of the death of Joseph Paxton.

Joseph Paxton died at dawn on the 8th June at Sydenham in 1865.

Flowers will be placed at his memorial at 1:30pm.

The event has been organised by the Joseph Paxton Society.

Members of the public are invited to bring flowers of their own choice (from the afternoon of Friday 7th June) to be attached to the circle lattice, part of the Crystal Palace, currently displayed in the Crystal Palace Park Information Centre.

The circle lattice (eight feet long and made of cast iron) was part of the Crystal Palace Corner erected last year in Hyde Park for the 150th anniversary of the Great Exhibition. It was shown on the BBC2 series 'What The Victorians Did For Us' with Alan Hart-Davis.

The Floral Crystal Palace Part will be taken in procession along the Central Avenue of the park to the Memorial at 1.30pm.

From 3-5pm a reception will take place in the Paxton Suite of the Crystal Palace Lodge.


A Celebration in Photography

The Clocktower, Katharine Street, Croydon May/June 2002

Exhibiton of photographs of Crystal Palace Top Site

by Wendy May Flower

Contact for further information-click here

What the Victorians did for us - BBC TWO, October 2001


Series complete. BBC Two

Making It Big. Risk Takers: Adam Hart-Davis looks at pioneering entrepeneurs, visiting William Armstrong's house in Northumberland, the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/victorians/

Party in the Park - Dulwich Park 13 May 2001

Not surprisingly, in view of the truly astounding action of Bromley Council in cancelling the multiplex project, there was a lot of interest and excitement at the Crystal Palace Campaign stand. People who had not heard the news were overjoyed and those who had came along to cangratulate the Campaign, heard more details and chatted about the future. Full copies of the Bromley announcement were available as well as press cuttings, an updated Campaign history, notes on the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) etc. Balloons, carstickers, badges and postcards were in demand and, it must be said, the optimistic atmosphere was helped by the sunshine. Over the public address system, in her brief address, Tessa Jowell congratulated the Crystal Palace Campaign on it's hard work and said ".. let's hope this never happens again."

RES 21/5/01

2000 - main events in which we have taken part

Date

Event

5 February

Public Meeting, Kingsdale School

26 February

National "boycott UCI" cinemas day

15 April

Mayoral Public Meeting, Kingsdale School

30 April

Coin Street Festival

14 May

Dulwich Park Festival

24 June

Mayow Park (Sydenham) Fun Day

15 July

Crystal Palace Park, Victorian Day

15 July

All Saints Church (Upper Norwood), Church Fete

1 August

Emancipation Day (Thornton Heath)

28 August

Norman Park, Bromley Carnival

7 October

Holy Trinity Parish Chuch (Sydenham), Update Meeting

18 November

All Saints Church (Upper Norwood), Advent Meeting

27,28 & 30 November

Liquor Licensing Hearing, Bromley Magistrates Court

In addition there were exhibitons held at the following libraries

Dulwich, Sydenham, Upper Norwood

Liquor Licence Application - 27 November 2000

Bromley Magistrates Court, London Road, is the scene where the licence application drama is being played out. The five magistrates faced a bevy of QCs and a full court room on both days.

Crystal Palace Campaign instructed the country's leading licensing QC Mr. Richard Beckett to act on its behalf in its objection to the application by L&RP for 14 liquor licences.

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, instructed a leading licensing barrister, Gerald Gouriet, to act on his behalf.

The London Borough of Bromley chose to appear at the licensing hearing in support of London & Regional Properties, and instructed both leading and junior Counsel, Messrs. Stone QC and Strachan. They stated that they were not acting for Bromley in its "property-holding capacity" (perish the thought).

The developer, L&RP, was represented by a solicitor, Mr. Woods.

The developer called evidence from Geoffrey Springer, a director of L&RP, and a licensing consultant, Mr. Bowen. They were duly cross-examined.

The Campaign called evidence from a large number of local people, including Valerie Shawcross (GLA member for Lambeth and Southwark), Councillors Humphreys (Southwark) and Compton (Gipsy Hill), Adrian Hill and Pat Trembath (Chairmen of the Dulwich and Sydenham Societies respectively), Lord Warner of Brockley, who is the Chairman of the Youth Justice Board, Dr. Denise Lodge, the head of Sydenham High School, Philip Kolvin, the Chairman of the Campaign, and a host of other local residents. They all spoke of the many concerns shared by the community as to the effect of the proposed licences.

Individual contributions from the floor came from a number of local residents, including Chris Brooks, the Chair of the Crystal Palace Triangle Community Association.

Finally, Mr. Stone QC made a speech to the Licensing Justices in support of the application which was not subject to any questions or cross-examination.

The case has been stood over until Thursday, when further residents will speak, our Counsel will sum up his case, and a decision is expected.

 

Tree felling sparks more fury - Croydon Guardian, 9 November 2000

The recent tree-felling phase in Bromley Council's bid to restore Crystal Palace Park was met with more protests last week.

Anger was sparked when residents witnessed the removal of more than 200 trees - some between one and 300 years old - claiming Bromley had not made clear how radical the changes would be.

Many residents have lost confidence in the council, believing aspects of the park development process to be inappropriate and careless. Remarking on her inspection of the park recently, Suzanne Nagle, of the Crystal Palace Protest*, said a log pile of at least 200 trees has been cleared and another pile has since appeared - indicating workmen are not keeping to the plans.

But Brian Turpin, Manage of Leisure and Community Services at Bromley, said: "I am entirely confident that the trees mapped for felling are the same ones which have come down."

He added: "In every situation we have managed to convince the people calling in protest that in a few years' time it will look tremendous - even now we can see the dinosaurs for the first time."

He said public notices were posted in the park and residents were given the chance to ask questions at the last committee meeting Ms Nagle said. "At the meeting there was the opportunity to ask two or three questions but the responses were inadequate almost dismissive.

She added: "There was also a map depicting the varieties of trees to be felled which showed 300 year old oak trees as pin pricks and 30 year old sycamores as half inch circles. And to top it all off the replacement varieties were listed in Latin which no one could understand."

More than 60 residents turned up in the park on Friday for a funeral procession in memory of the trees.

[*not Crystal Palace Campaign - Ed.]

Top of report


28 August 2000 - Bromley Carnival 2000

Organised by the Bromley Lions Club

Carnival Procession - Route - Tweedy Road - London Road - Market Square, Bromley - High Street, Bromley - Masons Hill - Bromley Common - Norman Park

Carnival Fete - opened 12 noon and ended around 5pm - at Norman Park, London Borough of Bromley
-------------
The Crystal Palace Campaign 'float', including some 'walkers' carrying banners, - "Parks are for children not cinemas" (amongst others) - was in the procession and drew much clapping from the spectators as it passed by. The mile-and-a-half route was thronged by spectators who had come out to enjoy the Bank holiday sunshine. The rain did alternate with sunshine (to be fair) and did not put off the many visitors to the Campaign stand - the photographic display was particularly eye catching and drew many people to the stand. A few visitors remembered the Crystal Palace fire and described that event vividly.

One tale has to be told - the Mayor of Bromley was presenting prizes to the majorettes and spotted a "Boycott UCI" and "Save Our Park" tee shirt being somewhat ostentatiously sported by two onlookers - this brief conversation ensued:

"Save our Park" said one of the campaigners.
"What park?", the Mayor
"Crystal Palace Park", one of the campaigners
"Where's that?" replied the Mayor!

Could we have identified one of the only people in the five boroughs who hasn't heard of the Crystal Palace Campaign and the Park issues? Was it sarcasm? - We may never know....

OBSERVATION - careful measurements of Norman Park suggest that it is easily large enough to take (at least) a 20 cinema multiplex with room to spare. Further there need be no roof top parking since there's enough space in the park i.e. Norman Park. ADVICE - it's probably a good idea to ask the local residents first or there could be a "Save Norman Park" Campaign...

Top of Page


VICTORIAN DAY , Saturday 15th July 2000 - at Crystal Palace Park

The event is being held on a Saturday this year since Crystal Palace Park is joining with the Ravensbourne Geological Society to put on a "Millenium Rock and Dinosaur Picnic" on Sunday16th July (see below).

"Bromley's Urban Ranger Service Present - a Millenium Victorian Extravaganza! 11am - 5pm - admission free! Thicket Road Entrance. For more details call The Information Centre on 020 - 8778 9496."

The Campaign will have a stall there - come and enjoy the day and find out the latest Campaign news. If you can help man our stall (or on any other occasion) email us.
--------------------------
Brief report - the rain held off to make the afternoon quite pleasant but cool. This didn't dampen the spirits of the many people who came along to watch the fabulous spectacle of real Victorians wandering amongst the crowd and then partcipating in a parade along the avenue of trees near the Thicket Road entrance. There was a ferris wheel, helter skelter, candy floss, icecream and popcorn, bric-a-brac sellors and the more serious societies including, of course, the Crystal Palace Campaign. We had a good selection of photographs of the campaign and a super collection entitled "Summer Solstice" by our talented "resident artist". There is now available a new design of our Tee-shirt and car sticker.... fuller report in due course with pictures.

Top of Page

Coin Street Celebrations - South Bank, London - we were there!
Sunday - 30th April 2000

After a slow start, probably discouraged initially by the weather, a large, friendly crowd milled along the South Bank of the Thames near Coin Street in time to the sound of the jazz, the reggae, the brass band ... in fact, it turned out to be a mild afternoon, the rain held off and the crowd had a great day out - with good food, drink, music, talk and a relaxing change from needs of domestic chores! The river is one of London's much underused assets - but, as old buildings and warehouses are cleared or restored for imaginitive schemes - like the south bank river walks - more and more of the Thames has become accessible.

All the mayoral candidates were in evidence, if not in person but on paper, alongside a wide range of "protest groups" including our own Crystal Palace Campaign. One of the common themes amongst all of the groups was "consultation" - or rather the lack of it! We are not alone.... Perhaps "protest group" is not the right term since the groups are often simply local residents concened by the changes being foisted on them without consultation in a fast- changing world.

The CPC stall was bustling with interested visitors - who stopped to find out what was going on (many knew of the issues). Hundreds of signatures were collected to add to our petition, people discussed the issues, took our handouts, looked at the photographs and displays, bought badges and postcards and were very supportive.

A worthwhile exersize this was in keeping the profile of our Campaign high and in allowing a direct interaction with concerned Londoners and similar community action groups.

Our thanks to Kim Rich, Janet More, Flores Cherrie, Alan Nelhams and Nick Goy who manned the stand, supported by Danielle & Mike Warwick, and Wendy & Gerry Gomez.

Top of Page

Last updated: 1/05/00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Boycott UCI group, 26th March 2000

HAPPY First BIRTHDAY

The BOYCOTT_UCI group have been reminding UCI cinemas for a whole year that they are not wanted in our park - CRYSTAL PALACE PARK. Celebrations were held on 26th March 2000 in Leicester Square, London, outside the Empire cinema. "Norma Jean..." - you know who was there in spirit..... cake was had by all

 Top of Page


5th February - Public meeting at Kingsdale School

Once again, on a cold but surprisingly sunny winter's morning almost 400 people turned up to hear the latest news of the Campaign's activities in particular the state of the mediation activities. A transcript is on the website. see - Public Meeting 5th Feb.

Top of Page


MARCH FOR THE PARK- 9th October 1999,10:30 am -for 11am start

Expected timing:-

4 pm arrive Leicester Square.

Protest against UCI (Paramount-Universal) at the Empire Cinema Leicester Square - preceeded by a march starting from Crystal Palace Parade. The 7.6 mile march will meet friends along the way at two main staging points - for those who can't make the whole walk - Kennington Park and outside Victoria Tower Gardens. It will be a fun day out with a serious purpose. Sponsorship forms for walkers from 10 Jasper Road SE19 tel: 0181-244 8399. Not many training days left.....

Route: Crystal Palace Parade - Fountain Drive - College Road - Dulwich Village - Red Post Hill - Herne Hill Road - Loughborough Road - Brixton Road - (Kennington Park) - The Oval - Albert Embankment - Lambeth Bridge - Millbank - Whitehall - Trafalgar Square.


MARCH FOR THE PARK

BRIEF REPORT--today, the 9th October 1999, a large crowd of people gathered on the Crystal Palace Parade to set off, accompanied by a Trad band, for Leicester Square. Once again the people of the area voted with their presence. The good weather helped and about 300 people started off along the Parade, down Fountain Drive and on their way....to complete the 8 mile walk! A St John's ambulance was in attendance but, thankfully, had no customers. Lunch in Kennington Park was followed by the final march to The Empire cinema. A 19000 signature petition was handed over to UCI by the character Darth Vader (Dark Lord of the Sith). The mood was a happy one but determined in the desire to show UCI that their scheme is not approved. This was emphasised by Chairman Philp Kolvin's rousing speach outside UCI's premier cinema - to"Strike Back at the Empire".

Top of Page


BBC Prom Concert - Albert Hall, London
2nd August 7:30pm 1999

Sibelius: Pohjola's Daughter
James MacMillan: Cello Concerto (first performance at the Proms)
Nielson: Symphony No. 6 "Sinfonia semplice"

BBC Symphony Orchestra
Leader - Elizabeth Layton
Conductor by Osmo Vanska
Cello - Raphael Wallfisch

(Raphael Wallfisch performed at our own Celebrity Concert.)

Brief Note: James MacMillan (born 1959): "The Cello Concerto, wherein outwardly conventional concerto form fuses with that of the symphonic tone poem, relates to the events and liturgies of Good Friday." The second part, The Reproaches, was influenced by "...a lone gunman's premeditated, indescriminate slaughter of sixteen infants at a school in Dunblane. MacMillan's wave-like figuration winds into a chain of cascading tears."
The concerto was originally written in 1996 at the request of Mstislav Rostropovich. It became one of three works commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra and was first performed by Rostropovich and the LSO at the Barbican in 1996. The Scottish Premiere was given in November 1997 by the same players as this Proms performance.
Taken from the programme notes by Ronald Weizman.
[Ed. Raphael Wallfisch gave a quite stunning performance which electrified the Proms audience...]

Top of Page



The Alternative Crystal Palace (to 26th July 1999) - exhibition at the Upper Norwood Library of the planning application documents submitted to Bromley Council by People and Places Int. Ltd. - architect Ray Hall.

see News Index (N.6) - The Alternative Crystal Palace

Top of Page


Summer 1999 Celebrity Concert 25th June: see Archive

Top of Page


UCI VISIT: Friday 11th June 1999

"Join a party to visit UCI's Head Office in Manchester - they obviously need the message taken to them. Telephone Dave on 0181-670 0323 OR Katriona on 0181 - 670 0154 for details."
--------------
Brief report: You might have been forgiven for thinking that Manchester was being invaded rather than being host to a contingent of 10 protesters! Helicopters? Heavy security? It's hard to know what UCI were thinking. One thing is for sure that the message to UCI was clear - there are a lot of local people not happy by the desecration of the Crystal Palace Park.

Top of Page


"Around the Clock - Around the Park"
DETAILS go to RUNNING page

Start: 12 noon Saturday 22 May 1999

Hardy, dedicated people who love the Park and love running are holding a 24 hour relay run, around the perimeter of Crystal Palace Park, to mark an "awareness of our historic park" and to demonstrate that the Crystal Palace Campaign continues....
ROUTE:- Annerly Hill - Thicket Road - Crystal Palace Park Road - Crystal Palace Parade...round... and round...

Come and cheer the runners on and show your support for the Campaign and support for the use of the park as parkland.

Fancy a late night sing? Play a guitar or other instrument? Or would like to help? Contact Kim on 0181-653-4000 or just turn up and cheer!

Top of Page


Tessa Jowell Meeting - 17th April 1999:

The Kingsdale School Hall was packed out! Probably about 1500 people turned up, filled the hall and overflowed outdoors. The audience consisted of people of all ages; local people; traders; church members; representatives of many organisations and some local councillors - the whole spectrum of those who have a deep concern for the fate of the Grade 2* listed Crystal Palace Park and the possible effect that Bromley's plans may have on its neighbourhood.

The Rt. Hon Tessa Jowell, Minister for Public Health, was present when speaker after speaker condemned Bromley Council's schemes and particularly the way in which Bromley have conducted the whole planning process. This was a public meeting called by the Minister, not a Crystal Palace Campaign show and yet there wasn't a single speaker who supported the scheme even though there was a specific appeal from the chairman, in the interests of fairness, for someone to speak up on behalf of the current plans - Bromley Councillors had refused an invitation to come to the meeting.

Two main concerns of the many expressed were the hopelessly inadequate consideration of traffic issues and the loss of open parkland. A particularly inspiring talk was given by Lorraine Hart the chief planner working on the Tower Hamlets' Mile End Park project. If only.... [see our links section for more information]

The Minister's summing up suggested to the audience that she hadn't really grasped the gist of what was said i.e. nobody wanted the plans to go ahead! Nevertheless she promised to try and set up a "stakeholder forum" of all interested parties. Her views did not go down well with audience who showed their frustration in no uncertain terms. If the message did not get across in the speeches they certainly must have been plain in the final few minutes of the meeting. Nevertheless the forum strategy must be pursued as with other options. At the very least, recent events have shown that a number of politicians are taking an interest in the plight of the Park and this has to be a step forward.

Top of Page


Saturday morning 6th March 1999- Demo-notes (also 7th)

Were you there?
Possibly about two to three hundred people turned up - news having been passed around by word of mouth - armed with a great variety of placards, petitions to sign," Save Crystal Palace Park" sashes, "NO to Bromley's Palace Plans" notices and more... Every age was represented, from babes in arms to the "youthful" elderly. The "TOOT" if you support the campaign notices brought a cacophony of hooter sounds from the large number of motorists passing through the Anerley Hill roundabout. If Bromley are trying to claim that the majority of local people support their development then they are truly the "silent majority". The good natured but vociferous crowd chatted amiably to the police and marched around the Triangle accompanied by a cordon of officers (mainly with an eye to safety) with several transit vans full of police in reserve.
Amiable it might have been but the message and purpose is deadly serious "NO to Bromley's Palace Plans".
Saturday evening: The vigil by the Ridge Wildlife Group attracted enough people to line the Parade. The sprit of camaraderie and protest was maintained as in the morning.

Top of Page


Sunday 7th March 1999

It wasn't all fun. The rain, the cold, wet underfoot. Nevertheless, the voice and views of local people were on display again! The local sports shop almost sold out of whistles, their shrill shout adding to the succession of motor car hooters signalling their support.

WRITE - WRITE - WRITE - WRITE - see NEWS for addresses
URGENT:_further information, some demo-pictures and the address of the cinema operator.

Top of Page


Court of Appeal Hearing - Press release 7/12/98:

The planning battle of the year reaches the COURT OF APPEAL on the 16th December 1998 as the Crystal Palace Campaign seeks to quash the London Borough of Bromley's planning permission to build a huge multiplex on the Crystal Palace Park in South London. A two day hearing is expected.

The Campaign, which represents thousands of local residents and traders, argues that the proposed building breaches the London Borough of Bromley (Crystal Palace) Act 1990, which requires any building to "reflect the architectural style" of the original, 1854 Crystal Palace. The proposal has a vast rooftop car park - one of the largest in the British Isles - with space for almost 1000 cars, accessed by 70 ft (21m) high concrete and steel vehicle ramps, and a ground floor almost devoid of glass so as to accommodate 18 cinemas.

The Campaign submits that this bears no resemblance whatsoever to the wholly glass facade of the original Crystal Palace, which was characterised by its triumphal arch, its barrel vaulted roof and its transepts.

The London Borough of Bromley did not consult local people until after development contracts were signed, and the proposals are being advanced despite widespread objections. Objectors include adjoining councils, the London Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Earth.
The Campaign is collecting thousands of pledges from South Londoners to boycott the multiplex and any cinema operator occupying the proposed building.

This scheme threatens every park in the country. We are liaising with environmental groups to make this a national protest to defend parkland from inappropriate development.
The Campaign has submitted its own planning application for the site - The People's Park - based on a small scale version of the original building and featuring a statue and ecology park, orangerie and education centre, such development being consistent with the open nature of the site and its status as an historic park.
-----------------
Notes: (1)-The Park is Metropolitan Open Land, Grade II listed (as is Buckingham Palace Gardens) and mostly a conservation area. The 12-acre wooded Crystal Palace site, which stands at the head of the Park, is the highest ridge in south London. In addition to cinemas, the enormous building may well contain video arcades, bingo halls and bowling alleys along with its diners and bars.
(2)-We are introducing to the Court a scale model (1 mm=1 foot) of Sir Joseph Paxton's original Crystal Palace so it may be compared with the proposed building, designed by the architect Ian Ritchie, which has been likened to an airport terminal amongst other things. Our model was built by Dulwich College and is some six feet long - it can be made available for photographs prior to the hearing by contacting our press officer (John Payne at 44-(0)181-244 8399). A comparison between this and the old building would allow viewers to decide whether they thought that the new one was in the style of the old - one of the main issues before the Court. The model of the new building resides at the offices of the developer, London and Regional Properties Ltd., 40 New Bond Street, London W1, telephone 44-(0)171-499 4060. The M.D. is Mr. Ian Livingstone.
(3)-The site is presently occupied by eco-warriors who are independent of the Campaign. They are subject to a Court of Appeal order to leave their tunnels and tree-houses - eviction could occur at any time.

Top of Page


Review:----Grand Auction - 8th December:

By the time the auction began, most people had drunk a glass of wine, tasted the excellent cheese and were thoroughly relaxed if a little squashed - it's very gratifying to see how many people we can muster to support our events. Perhaps it was really the lure of a bargain.... In any case a most enjoyable evening was had by all and, of course, much needed funds were raised from about 100 items sold. Thanks go to our brilliant team of organisers, helpers and the Antique Warehouse, Jasper Road(for the space). We will keep a watch out for a certain shop sign to change to Phoenix Shoes and Auctioneers. Also a big thanks to all the traders, businesses and supporters who gave a wide selection of great items for the sale.

Top of Page


Review:-----"History Hunters" - Channel 4 - 21st November 1998 - 4 p.m.

Did you watch it? Although there was a serious purpose to it - mainly discovering the source of the 1936 fire - the programme was a lot of fun! It showed many pictures of the Palace in its heyday; clips of the fire (video at the Crystal Palace Museum); the original Paxton equivalent of the "fag packet design" i.e. the famous blotting paper drawing (from the Victoria and Albert Museum - which owes its existence to the Great Exhibition of 1851); a visit to the London-Midland-Scottish railway station (designed by Paxton) in Oxford which has the same modular construction as the original Crystal Palace - rumour has it that the very same patterns used for the Palace were also used to cast the pieces for the station; a visit to the Paxton-designed greenhouses of Chatsworth House; the surprising fact that Albert sitting in his memorial (newly opened after years of painstaking reconstruction) in Hyde Park holds in his hand a remarkable drawing (it's a must to visit anyway-see Miscellany for the drawing). I have no doubt that many recordings were made of the programme - so speak nicely to a friend - it's worth it. (I won't reveal the outcome of the fire investigation...) - Webmaster.
see also website http://www.channel4.com/knowing/

Top of Page



Top of Page; Back to EVENTS page

Last updated: 5/12/99 - general removal of out of date items
17/01/00 - added 5th Feb meeting
8/02/00 - report/link on 5th Feb meeting 10/03/00 various editing, tidying up etc.
23/03/00; 26/03/00;30/03/00 added Mayoral meeting
added telephone number stuff: 4/4/00-more mayor stuff;7/04/00;17/04/00;24/04/00;01/05/00;
9/7/00; 16/07/00:
created as a separate page: 15/08/00, 28/08/00; added item (trees) & new index;13/5/01;21/05/01; 3/3/02
23/06/02;10/12/04;21/1/05;6/2/2005;23/03/05;2/5/05