Croydon residents who can remember the coronation could help the town gain city status as part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations next year.

Croydon Council is hoping that recollections of those attending this New Addington coronation party in 1953 will help boost its bid.

This party was held on land which used to belong to St George's Church at the corner of King Henry's Drive and Lodge Lane.

If you can spot yourself celebrating this moment in history then why not write to the Guardian with your memories along with a comment on why you think that Croydon deserves city status.

Your response could be incorporated into Croydon Council's campaign for their bid.

The council is pulling out all the stops for next year's Golden Jubilee city competition, and is confident they can mount a good case for formal recognition.

Organisers have been busy studying how Brighton, Inverness and Wolverhampton became Britain's three millennium cities.

Council leader Hugh Malyan said: "Croydon's bid will surprise a lot of people.

Those who are unfamiliar with our town may not know about the extent of our heritage,our economic and cultural vibrancy and our ambition and determination to be better.

"Our submission will review where we've come from and show where we are going to.

It will vigorously challenge the perception that by being a part of London, Croydon lacks its own identity.

"We will use the bidding process as a forceful reminder of the qualities that have resulted in Croydon being such a pioneering place."

Common characteristics shared by cities around the country have been observed by organisers and careful note has been taken of the three main factors the Lord Chancellor's Department will take into account when assessing bids.

These are regional significance, historical features and a forward-looking attitude.

The council is currently compiling a document outlining the bid, which is due to be completed by the beginning of October.

The proposal will be published in a special edition of the Croydon Reports, which will go to every household in the borough.

Although city status means no new powers or functions, the council has long believed it can bring enormous benefits in terms of enhancing civic pride and attracting more

economic investment.

If you are in this picture then write to the Croydon Guardian at Third Floor, Ekman Cleave House, 854 Brighton Road, Purley, CR8 2UX.

November 13, 2001 16:30