English Heritage has arranged for a blue plaque in Crystal Palace to commemorate one of the greatest British sportsman of the 20th Century.
Henry Cotton: one of Britain’s sporting greats
The unveiling ceremony is taking place at 47 Crystal Palace Road, the childhood home of golfer Henry Cotton, the three-time winner of the Open Championship. Presiding over the ceremony will be Peter Alliss, the former Ryder Cup player and BBC golf commentator.
The plaque unveiling comes 30 years after Cotton’s death, aged 80.
Cotton grew up in south London, attending Alleyn’s School in Dulwich and playing his teenaged golf at the Aquarius Golf Club in Honor Oak.
In 1926, aged 19, he became the club professional at Langley Park Golf Club, his first job as a golf pro. The school and the golf club are both involved in next month’s ceremony, which is to take place at noon on July 11.
Cotton was one of the biggest sporting stars in Britain in the first half of the last century, winning the Open in 1934, 1937 and 1948. His then record round of 65 at Royal St George’s saw his club manufacturers, Dunlop, name a brand of golf ball after the achievement.
Cotton received a knighthood in 1987, shortly before his death.
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