Names on the buses

702 Ronald Bates

Connections with Brighton and Hove : Ronald Bates, a leading Conservative councillor, was a founder of the Brighton Festival in 1967. He conceived the Festival idea and put it into effect during his term as Mayor. At that time, he was the youngest man to have been first citizen. Bates worked closely with the original director, Ian Hunter. Together they brought top performers to the resort, particularly in classical music. A coup in the first year was securing the services of Sir Laurence Olivier who at that time lived in Brighton. He was a long serving chairman of the Festival and saw it become firmly established under the inspired direction of Gavin Henderson. Although many people had predicted failure as Brighton was so close to London, the Festival was an immediate success and is now the biggest in England. On the council, Bates was a liberal Conservative and clashed with some of his colleagues on issues of principle. He also failed to become chosen as Tory candidate for Brighton Pavilion and withdrew from front line politics while still in his fifties. Bates remained busy throughout the Eighties and Nineties in his job as a solicitor with Carpel, Cure, Peachey and Bates in West Street. He also had a long connection with the Brighton Philharmonic Solidity and helped the orchestra become one of the best in the south.

702 Scania Omnicity - carried name since delivery in December 2008. Metro 5 branding removed May 2013. Repainted into Route 27 livery in September 2013. Bus sold in December 2017.