To celebrate 100 years of public transport across Sussex & South East Hampshire, Stagecoach has launched two special bus liveries, based on the colours of the famous bus and coach company Southdown Motor Services.
The two buses were unveiled by Stagecoach’s Commercial Director, Mark Turner and Engineering Director, Richard Alexander at a special photo ceremony, hosted by the Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, situated in the heart of the South Downs National Park.
The single-decker Enviro300 bus has been finished in the traditional Southdown green and cream livery that was evident in various guises from 1915 until the early 1990s, whilst the double-decker Enviro400 represents the Southdown wartime variation of green and battleship grey to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe, on May 8, 1945.
Southdown Motor Services was formed in 1915 and operated from a number of depots across Sussex and South East Hampshire with an operating area which stretched from Hastings in the East to Southampton in the west and as far north as East Grinstead, Horsham, Crawley and Haywards Heath.
The former Southdown depots at Worthing and Chichester are still in use today as part of Stagecoach South.
Stagecoach’s Commercial Director, Mark Turner, said: “We are very proud of our heritage and to follow the tradition of providing an important public transport network to thousands of customers across our region. We hope the local people will enjoy our trip down Memory Lane.”
As part of the centenary celebrations, a special bus rally will take place on Sunday, June 7 on Southsea Common with approximately 120 modern and vintage buses on display, plus free bus rides across the local area.
INFO
Stagecoach is appealing for help with the search to find the oldest surviving Southdown employee to be guest of honour and to cut the birthday cake at the event on June 7 2015. If this is you, or you know of a relative or friend who worked for Southdown, email: [email protected]
