( Feb 25, 2016) The Whitgift Centre branch of Boots had a very good record department during the 1970’s. They could be relied upon to have enough copies of a new album in stock on the day of release for me to buy one in my lunch hour. When Crosby Stills Nash & Young’s album ‘Deja Vu’ was released in 1970 I just had to have it as soon as it came out! Catching a bus from Purley Oaks, I was soon alighting in Croydon town centre. A quick sprint through the Whitgift Centre, into Boots, and there it was in the rack. I couldn’t believe how luxurious the cover was. Gatefold with leather textured card and gold embossed lettering plus a pasted on ‘antiqued’ photo of the band. I was blown away and hadn’t heard a note of the music yet. Definitely worth missing lunch for.
Dave Harwood
28th January 2013 comment on a Bygone Croydon Facebook page: Simon Orr: “Boots in the Whitgift Centre used to have a half way decent record department at the back of the ground floor. Bought my first album there (Ziggy Stardust).
