A Croydon woman who has written a poetry book based on her experiences living in Croydon has leant her support to the Guardian's We Think Croydon's Champion campaign.

Jillian Henderson-Long was so inspired by living, working and socialising in the borough that she penned a series of verses on Croydon and is hoping to get her work published. Her appeal for a publisher comes after a grant application from Croydon Heritage to fund the book's production was recently turned down.

Jillian, who has lived in Chaucer Green for the last five years with her husband, said: "I think that Croydon is a fantastic place to live and work in and I don't think it gets enough credit for being the great place that it is. Last year I wrote a number of poems about Croydon but after my application for a grant was turned down, I realised I couldn't afford to get it published.

"I am now approaching local interest publishers to get my poetry book produced."

Jillian's book, titled Carnival Vibrations, has also attracted enthusiasm from Croydon's mayor, Councillor Stuart Collins, who has offered to write an introduction for it. And Jillian was so impressed with our We Think Croydon's Champion campaign that she felt compelled to write to the Guardian.

She added: "Anything that sings Croydon's praises gets my support. It's good to see the Croydon Guardian championing the town when so many others put it down.

"I saw the campaign last year and think it's wonderful that it will be continuing into 2003.

"I saw the wrap on last week's edition and what the mayor said about Croydon and felt compelled to write to you as it just echoed what I've been saying about Croydon for years."

January 29, 2003 12:00