Names on the buses

628 Dennis Hobden

Connections with Brighton and Hove : 1920-1995 The first Labour MP in Sussex and Mayor of Brighton from 1979-1980, Dennis Hobden was a dedicated public servant who lived in Brighton his whole life. Born in Robert Street, he left school at the age of 14 to join the Brighton Post Office. In a career spanning 48 years with the Post Office, he became a key figure in its union. In World War II, he saw active service with the Royal Air Force. The war politicised Dennis; he became more involved in local politics and joined the town council. At the 1964 General Election, he contested the Brighton Kemptown constituency. He famously beat his opponent by just seven votes to become the first Labour MP in Sussex. Many people claimed to be among those seven. Dennis proved to be a hard-working yet sometimes controversial MP. He cared little for personal advancement or impressing the Labour hierarchy. After losing his seat in 1970, he continued working as a councillor. He was elected Mayor of Brighton in 1979 by the then Tory administration. Peers from all sides of the political spectrum valued his likeable personality and excellent oratory. In his opening speech at that year’s Labour Party Conference in Brighton, Dennis was warmly applauded by delegates for his achievements to date. These included the Brighton Centre, where the conference was taking place. Opened two years earlier, the new conference and exhibition centre was his idea. Labour took control of the local authority for the first time in 1986, and he oversaw several committees until his retirement in 1991. A Freemason, spiritualist and passionate believer in municipal socialism, Dennis is remembered as one of Brighton’s best-known sons.

628 Scania Omnidekka carried name since delivery in March 2004, on METRO Line 1. Metro 1 branding removed January 2012. Repainted into Route 48 livery December 2012. Route 48 branding removed August 2016. Bus sold in October 2016.