Marking the 70th Anniversary of the withdrawal from service on 31st
October 1947 of the last open staircase AEC Regent in Brighton.Come and take your seat for a
very special, never to be repeated ride on board an 87-year old petrol-engine powered
AEC Regent through the streets of Brighton & Hove.The bus is superbly turned out
in Thomas Tilling Ltd livery in the style carried by this type of bus when
operated in both London and Brighton during the 1930s.
Seventy years on, almost to
the day, this special event was held in Brighton on Saturday 28th
October 2017, organised by Geoff Smith and Brian Jackson with invited guests. Beginning our journey at
Patcham Fountain, we follow the original 1930 routes as far as possible to the
former Old Steine tram and trolleybus terminus.
We then continue to Southwick Green and return to Brighton railway
station via Portslade and Hove railway stations. Our journey continues via the
famous Clock Tower, through Old Steine and along the sea front to Whitehawk bus
garage. Our Regent travels through the
garage, built to accommodate this type of bus, offering an interesting
comparison with the modern buses. From Whitehawk bus garage we
ride back via Marine Parade to Old Steine where our journey ends. We
would like to say thank you
to everyone concerned, especially the London Bus Museum and their
drivers, for
organising this superb day out on this beautiful “old lady” of the
road. So take your seat – front nearside lower deck
– for a ride back into the past.
Why not have a look at Brian Jackson's Morris Models shop website