Names on the buses

676 Ray Evison
452 Ray Evison

Connections with Brighton and Hove : Ray Evison was one of a notable group of Brighton Council chief officers appointed after the Second World War. He was in charge of the town's parks and gardens. Under his direction, the open spaces became some of the best run by any council in the country and he was awarded the OBE. Appointed in 1951, he was particularly noted for immaculate gardens on the seafront despite the ravages of what he called the unholy trinity of wind, salt and sand. Mr Evison wrote several books including one called Gardening by the Sea which gave details of how to break down the force of the wind and what hardy plants to grow in exposed locations. Trained at the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens in Wisley, Surrey, he became president of several parks organisations. He was also responsible for planting a good variety of elm trees in Brighton before Dutch elm disease started to be a problem. Under his direction, Brighton also had internationally recognised lilac beds at Withdean Park and the Gardens of Greetings in Preston Park.

676 Scania Omnidekka - carried name since delivery in October 2007. Regency 29 branding added May 2011. Name moved to Volvo Gemini 452 in February 2014. Route 7 branding added August 2015. Repainted into Route 2 livery September 2017. Bus sold in December 2024.