Names on the buses 353 Faith Matyszak-Gander

Connections with Brighton and Hove : Faith Matyszak-Gander was a well-known volunteer and activist on the Whitehawk estate in Brighton. Arriving in the city in 1950, she worked hard to improve the estate and became known to many simply as ‘Mrs. Whitehawk’. One of her most successful projects was to bring the derelict basement in Robert Lodge back into use. Between working as a nurse at the Royal Sussex County Hospital from 1967 to 1996 and raising her children, Faith also fought for fairness and equality in the city. She was involved with and often the driver of much work for Brighton and Hove Black Women’s group, the Brighton & Hove Racial harassment forum, Trust for Developing Communities, and the Brighton Unemployed Family Centre. Faith was also member of the Black History Project and maintained the contribution of people from ethnic minorities to city life should be more widely recognised. Awarded an MBE in 2007 for her community and volunteer work, the young members of Whitehawk’s Crew Club raised £70 to buy her a replica MBE that she could wear day-to-day. A much loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Faith died in 2015 at the age of 83 having spent decades helping other people.

353 Alexander Dennis Enviro - carried name since October 2020.