My Dad worked for Southdown between 1953 and 1983. He started as a conductor, became a driver, then was a driver-courier on Southdown luxury tours and finally an inspector. It was a shame that Southdown got nationalized - the spark seemed to go out of it after that. There was quite a family feel to the company as I recall when I was a kid growing up in Brighton. Hopefully something like that has been rekindled in some way. My favorites - I have to say - were the Brighton Trolley Buses. What acceleration they had....great memories for sure. I lived on Springfield Rd so would take the 26 and 26A or the 46 and 46A regularly. When I first visited San Francisco some years ago, I was taken aback by the familiar whine of electric motors and the metallic twitching sound (as best as I can describe it) of trolley arms clattering over points at the intersection of Montgomery Street and Columbus Ave. Made my hair stand on end.

Rather than a Routemaster, I would have preferred to see Brighton & Hove Buses spending money on a Bristol Lodekka, the original OPN series being my particular favourite. Like Phil, I still miss those purring trolley buses in Brighton. Now we have to go to places like Carlton Colville to see them in action.

I started as a bus conductor in the early 1960s and left in the late 1960s. I use to think we seemed to carry as many passengers then as there are to day. The buses then were a bit of a rough ride but my hat goes off to all the guys who where part of an extremly good service. I know the days of the 'conductor' are long gone but I have never forgotten the good times, the helping hand for the frail, waiting for a running customer and the sense of humour we exchanged.

Hi Phil, I remember your Dad as Bill Allsopp. What a lovely man, along with his good mate Eddie Calvert also an inspector at Pool Valley.