I lied, turns out I do have the missing view, but it's so nicely framed, not sure if I want to take it apart.
Your camera seems pretty good, so maybe could take a pic of it--pretty please!
As to the Museum, Ken Kiss never got back to me, and experiences like that are the reason I started my own collection. Anyway, managed without so far, I suppose. How do you think he feels about all the posting going on?
Ken is a nice guy when you get to know him... I heard a lot of bad things about the museum folks in general, but they all turned out to be false. A guy called John was very generous in letting me borrow my most wanted CP documentary when the Foundation had let me down. Barry is a very knowledgeable guy to talk to about the palace, and he's given me some rare photos before. Another John, a trustee, brought in the Penge Enclosure Award map for me to copy. But he's hardly ever in the country, and I only met him about 3 times. All the staff there are great. Ken has helped me more than anyone else though I have to admit. He's a very independent type of guy, and maybe some people can't get used to that fact, but you have to accept that's the way he is. The guy is a walking encyclopedia of the palace. He knows things off by heart about the measurements and dimensions, among other things, that I wouldn't even care to know. No proper plans exist of the water tower's designs, and I remember hearing the story of one guy picking Ken's brains in the hope of reverse-engineering them.

I should send you the drawing he did of the basement area... you would be amazed, as there's no decent photos and it's hard to envisage that area. Ken has got a really good memory... I forget things all the time, but he is always on the ball, and the kind of guy who never gets stuck for words. He's let me borrow the complete set of the Crystal Palace Matters going back to the early 80s, plus lot's of other videos, to help me with my research into the palace for when I help out stewarding. He's given me those big A2 plans to the palace + the 1852 Penge map. When I've seen him some weeks, he's often brought stuff in to show the staff, including photos, and a model he did of the palace and Rockhills. Ken even brought in a pile of paperwork the other month to show me on Rockhills because he knew I was researching into it, but I failed to turn up.

Some people say Ken doesn't like to share, but it's not true. I've seen him bring stuff up from the archives to show members of the public, who are really enthusiastic about something in particular. On quiet days when I help out with the museum, the amount of stuff I can learn from the great master in one afternoon is mind boggling. He's answered all my questions about the Palace, where the Foundation failed to answer one. I've been on staff walkabouts with Ken around the entire park, and I even have a copy of the notes we made, although they need tidying up. Ken is rather busy lately and he's had some personal problems to deal with. Barry is in charge right now. You're not the only one who he hasn't got back to. Chase him up after Christmas; that would be the best time. He has a lot of responsibilities. If he knew about the posting, who knows, he might even register and join in. But, like I said, now's not the best time. There's never been any in-depth CP discussion round here BTW, nor on any other forums. This is the first time, and I must say it's very refreshing, despite the shaky, negative start. It's really great having you round here helping out with new information regarding the Palace and educating the Sydenham folks at the same time. I'm sure many people are listening and enjoying our topics, but then there's a lot of low-profile lurkers out there who prefer to stay in the woodwork. This could be the start of a new thing, and any one of our topics could be picked up on at anytime in the future. If you PM me your name I can mention this whole thing to Ken when I see him, along with the other guy whose waiting to hear back from him. From my experience, there's a real shortage of enthusiastic people like yourself. Do pop into the museum sometime to see the new display... Ken and his wife worked really hard on that... it's packed up with technical info big time! Wait until you see the info on the Rotunda building and stuff... the museum is going from strength to strength!
