BACK in 2002, a spokesperson for the Lord Chancellor's office sniffily dismissed the very idea of Dunfermline calling itself a city as a "discourtesy to the Queen".

That's despite our undoubted royal history and, 20 years on, the hope is that Her Majesty will put aside any perceived slight and settle the argument once and for all by giving the ancient capital its due.

Dunfermline is entering the competition, as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, to win city status despite many believing we've never lost it.

Local historian Bert McEwan recalled: "The only other place I know of that was known as a city was Elgin and they backed us up when we were trying to get Dunfermline's city and royal burgh status acknowledged and fully recognised about 20 years ago.

"Councillor James Simpson, Sheila Pitcairn and myself did a lot of work to promote it but the Scottish Government had insisted that only local government authority areas could be called cities, so it was Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

"Everybody else was by the wayside.

"That was punctured by Stirling and Inverness being made cities by the Queen and I think Dunfermline has a fair chance.

"There's not a comparable town in Scotland with its size, history and heritage, whether that's Ayr, Kilmarnock, Dumfries or Cumbernauld. Paisley has the size but doesn't have the heritage we have. We've got a royal palace."

In December 2002, the newly-named city centre manager, Jim McInally, unveiled a new slogan and logo – 'Dunfermline: A Different City Every Day' – and Fife Council's then convener, Tom Dair, had outlined the evidence of city status to the Press.

This included the chain of office worn by former provosts of Dunfermline, which bears the words 'City of Dunfermline', and the fact the Queen’s own father, George VI, was awarded the ‘Freedom of the City and Royal Burgh of Dunfermline’ in 1928.

There was also a speech at the Alhambra Theatre, when the then Duke of York asserted his pride at being “associated with a city so rich in historical associations and so deservedly distinguished for its progressive and enlightened development”.

And Mr Dair showed a framed copy of a letter from the war department to Dunfermline historian Dr Ebenezer Henderson in 1856, stating their designation of Dunfermline as a city.

Cllr Simpson had also discovered that although Dunfermline did not have a surviving royal charter that confirmed city status, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow didn't have one either.

But there was evidence that a charter had existed and Dunfermline had been treated as a city for centuries.

Bert has changed his mind on the issue.

He had felt that Dunfermline's city and royal burgh status was beyond question but now concedes that the royal seal of approval would take away any argument and make it official in everyone's eyes.

Bert said: "It's the birth and burial place of royalty; of kings, queens, princes and princesses over hundreds of years, we've got Pittencrieff Park and Public Park, sports stadiums and facilities, Knockhill is a feature, we've got a lot of things going for Dunfermline.

"We've got a terrific history which has not been promoted and I sincerely hope Fife Council get a good team together to make up the bid and don't involve some of the silly consultants they've used in the past that know nothing about Dunfermline.

"Older citizens have always known it as a city and royal burgh, even the old dust carts had it written on!

"Any of us would be delighted to help with advice, they just need to ask the question. We don't want to be on a committee or to have to argue about it all the time, just make sure the facts are correct and they know the background of Dunfermline from the 11th century to the present day.

"If they put their mind to it properly, they could make a very good case."

Bert continued: "It opens the doors to financial assistance and more funds. The high street is sad just now but would it bring more business into the town centre? Quite possibly.

"It's a surprise Fife Council are backing it as we've always had a job trying to get them to promote Dunfermline.

"It may also draw the attention of Visit Scotland as they don't promote Dunfermline, the National Trust don't promote Dunfermline – it doesn't exist as far as they're concerned as we don't have one of their buildings here – and Historic Environment Scotland don't promote Dunfermline either.

"We've probably got the least out of its legacy.

"City status would get us noticed and Dunfermline is a place we should be proud of."