General manager of Crystal Palace 1914-49. Henry James Buckland was born in Maidstone. Lived at Rockhills, 1922-56. Knighted in 1931. Died Bromley, Kent.
The Palace burnt down in 1936 and Buckland was involved in plans to build a new exhibition, arts and sports centre, which ultimately came to very little. Buckland resigned as General Manager on 11 January 1949.
The picture is captioned: "Sir Henry Buckland ... helps workmen to pull down the last of the ironwork in the central transept after a controlled explosion, 15th July 1937." Looks like fun.
