Names on the buses

702 Peggy Ramsay

Connections with Brighton and Hove : Peggy Ramsay, probably the most famous theatrical agent of her era, had a home in the North Laine area of Brighton which she often visited. Born in 1908, Ramsay started her career reading scripts and was encouraged to set up an agency. Her first discovery was Robert Bolt. In the Fifties and Sixties she represented many leading playwrights including the prolific Alan Ayckbourn and she was able to buy out her partners in 1963. Among her clients were Windsor Davies, Simon Callow, Günther Grass, John Lennon, Colin McInnes, John Mortimer and Muriel Spark. Ramsay was particularly proud at discovering the darkly humorous Joe Orton who she rescued from penury. She had a great love of the theatre and dedicated her life to finding talent for the stage, mainly in London. She prided herself on being able to spot a good play on a first reading. Her fame was such that she was portrayed on stage herself. Ramsay first came to Brighton in the Sixties and bought a house in Kensington Place. She liked to retreat there at the weekends and kept her private life well apart from her professional life. She died in 1991 leaving £1.5 million in her will and a plaque was placed on her home in 2009 by the Peggy Ramsay Foundation which helps aspiring playwrights. It was unveiled by Simon Callow.

418 Volvo Gemini - carried name since delivery in April 2011 on Route 7. Name spelt incorrectly as Peggy Ramsey, corrected May 2011. Route 7 branding removed September 2012. Route 49 branding added November 2012. Name removed March 2017. Name reappeared on 702 ADL Enviro400 in March 2024.