The Croydon community will gather on Sunday for a civic ceremony in New Addington to remember the seven lives taken in the Sandilands tram derailment.
The service will be led by Civic Mayor Richard Chatterjee and attended by Executive Mayor Jason Perry, community leaders and first responders from the police, ambulance and fire services.
Flowers are expected to be laid at the memorial site and a minute’s silence taken at 1pm to honour the victims – Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, Robert Huxley, 63, and Philip Logan, 52, Donald Collett, 62 and Mark Smith, 35.
The derailment in 2016 near the Sandilands tram stop also led to many sustaining life-changing injuries after the tram, which was travelling at more than three times the speed limit, overturned on a sharp bend.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Chatterjee, who is organising the service, said the ceremony on Sunday represents “an important moment of reflection and unity for the Croydon community”.
The Conservative councillor of more than 20 years said the tragedy exposed shortcomings in tram designs and health and safety precautions “in the most costly way”.
“Anyone could have been on that tram, and it could have happened at any time,” he added.
“They didn’t get a chance to say ‘goodbye’ or ‘sorry’ or tell people they loved them.
“Those who died came from the tight-knit community of New Addington, so the shock and pain were especially wide-felt, and the reverberations will surely last for generations.
“We remember also because we are grateful for life, for life is a gift.”
Among those attending the service will be Marion Burchell, a member of New Addington Pathfinders, a resident-led community group for people living and working in the area.
Burchell, who lost two friends in the derailment, said the annual service remains deeply personal.
She said: “I never want them to be forgotten.
“As a community, it is important that we come together to remember those that died and to show continued support for the survivors, families, friends, emergency services and all those affected by that tragic day.
“We will never forget.”
Sunday’s service will once again bring Croydon residents together to remember those who died and to honour the resilience of the community that continues to carry their memory forward.
The tribute, usually held at 11am, has been pushed back this year as it coincides with Remembrance Sunday.
Since the event, a series of safety measures have been introduced following recommendations from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, overseen by the Office of Rail and Road.
An investigation in 2023 found the crash was avoidable and the result of failures in health and safety duties by Transport for London and Tram Operations Limited.
The two organisations were fined a total of £4million in damages.
Featured image credit: Croydon Council
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