Brighton bus boss Roger French has turned author to write a revealing account of the past quarter of a century on the buses.
Mr French’s book is called Pride And Joy – My Amazing 25 Year Journey With Brighton And Hove Buses.
It charts the history of Brighton and Hove Buses and explains the background to a series of innovations during that time.
Episodes include the decision to charge a £1 flat fare in 2000, the campaign built around the phrase “I’m On The Bus” and the naming of buses after memorable local people.
For bus enthusiasts the book includes a list of every bus to have run locally and all the route changes.
For those interested in business the book includes
- the secrets behind the management buyout of the company in 1987
- how the company was sold to Go-Ahead Group in 1993
- the methods that have led to more passengers travelling by bus in Brighton and Hove each year for the past 17 years.
The 160-page book contains more than 250 photographs and maps.
Pride And Joy is available online from www.buses.co.uk and costs £19.90 including post and packing.
It is also available for £19.50 at the 1 Stop Travel shops in the Old Steine and Brighton Station and from the bus company’s head office at 43 Conway Street, Hove.
All profits from sales of the book are being donated to the Martlets Hospice and the Argus Appeal, two local charities with which Roger French has been involved for many years.
The book will also shortly be available from City Books, local branches of British Bookshops and Waterstones, Morris Models of Lancing and online through Amazon and the Classic Bus book sales website.
