Kennards of Croydon: The Store that Entertained to Sell: A History of a Debenhams Store

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Are you still in Torquay and fit and well? I hope so. You’re so kind to reply and it has refuelled my curiosity of the old store. I’m sure I will love the book. But good things can't last forever and, in May 2004, the club's owners, First Leisure, went into receivership. Be this as it may, some of the animals were not always confined to their cages. In the mid-1930s a cheetah was on display in the restaurant where it, together with no doubt some slightly nervous diners, were serenaded by Ida Santerelli and her female band.

Despite suffering significant damage in the Second World War, the shop battled on and stayed open until 2012, when it went into administration. Australian actor Barney Worth at the Kennards Christmas Show in Wimbledon, where he was playing the part of Santa Claus in November 1941. Worth weighed 42 stone, making him one of the largest Santas in London. The store claimed he was the largest in the world!

I saw countless bands at The Rex and The Fairfield Halls, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, The Stones, all the Liverpool bands. Also on the last night of the beautiful Whitgift School I went to a concert by local band Peter Frampton and the Herd. A brand new pet shop, on the second floor was opened. It had space, light and carpet on the floor and about ten tropical fish tanks in a window bay.

If you were on this bandwagon you will remember the sad day it had to close its doors for good when in 1990 it folded and the shop was shut down. A popular story is the store once provided all the uniforms for the Royal Air Force, and one time French aristocrats apparently flew into Croydon just to buy clothing. One former Croydon resident who knew the store well told the News Shopper magazine: "Kennards had a little zoo in the new building. The animals exhibited were quite a large collection of different monkeys in cages with wire fronts, various species of parrots and pet animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

1. The Victoria line was supposed to run to Croydon

Alan Simpson: I used to love going out in Croydon! Worked in Allders for a while and used to go to Pals on a Thursday after work! Great nights and always rammed! Moonshine, Blue Orchid, Joe Bananas! Sadly all gone now! Do the kids of today even have anywhere to go to actually meet friends (old and new!) and have a good time. Too much ‘socialising’ is done online now I guess!