Names on the buses

677 Elisabeth Howard

434 Elisabeth Howard

Connections with Brighton and Hove : 1929 - 2006 Elisabeth Howard was a ceaseless campaigner for improving Lewes. She was one of the best-known figures in the town during the 1970s and 80s. Born in Seaford, she moved to Lewes in the early 1970s after a spell in Ringmer. She had worked as a secretary for the BBC and various organisations in the United States of America. She later worked as a social worker in children’s services. She was a good musician and linguist, having spent time studying in Paris shortly after the Second World War. Elisabeth also undertook plenty of voluntary work. Elisabeth started a campaign to prevent the historic St Anne's House from being sold by East Sussex County Council. This was unsuccessful. She had better luck with her next campaign to save the Needlemakers' building from demolition. It now houses many specialist craft studios, offices, shops, and a café. Elisabeth had a brief spell as a Labour Councillor in Lewes. However, she was better suited to seeking change as an ordinary member of the public. Elisabeth was always very well briefed about any of her causes. She successfully campaigned to keep the Pells open air swimming pool, Britain's oldest freshwater outdoor public swimming pool, open. She was one of many people who fought for Lewes to have a new library. With many other locals, Elisabeth successfully stood up to a proposal to build the Lewes Relief Road in the 1960s. This road would have sawn Lewes in half and required the demolition of nearly a hundred important buildings. Elisabeth is remembered as a kind and caring woman. When she died, the church for her funeral was packed to overflowing.

677 Scania Omnidekka - carried name since delivery in October 2007. Regency branding added May 2011. Regency branding revised September 2014. Regency branding removed February 2016. Name moved to Volvo Gemini 434 in July 2016. Name spelt wrong after glass damage during February-March 2023 now corrected. Repainted into new Regency livery in October 2023.