Names on the buses

313 Bob Gunnell

Connections with Brighton and Hove : Brighton was one of the first towns to have local radio and a local man, Bob Gunnell, was chosen as station manager. The official launch date was February 14 1968 but Gunnell went on air two months earlier to help people during a freak snowstorm. Many young broadcasters who worked at the station in Marlborough Place went on to achieve national fame. They include Kate Adie and Des Lyman. But there were equally talented broadcasters such a John Henty, Keith Slade and Piers Bishop who preferred to remain local. Gunnell made sure listeners were entertained well by BBC Radio Brighton. It covered everything from delayed buses in Western Road to the victory by Abba with Waterloo in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest at the Dome He left as the station expanded to cover all Sussex and Surrey too. But he had a long and active retirement in which his main campaigns were for older people. Although he could be awkward, Gunnell was fair and is well remembered by all who worked for him.

313 Alexander Dennis Enviro - carried name since September 2019.