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Yes it is true, Giuseppe Garibaldi came to South Norwood / Crystal Palace (I might be over exaggerating the South Norwood bit) to receive a decorative sword in 1854, before returning to Italy to continue the fight for independence.
No doubt Lenin popped over for a commemorative plaque, and Che Guevara travelled for days to receive an honorary award, but these events have been lost in the bowels of history!
Jason E Cooper 