Names on the buses

645 Paul Stonor

Connections with Brighton and Hove : The life of businessman Paul Stonor is an amazing rags-to-riches story with a large dose of philanthropy. He founded electronics company Sound Diffusion, once one of Brighton and Hove's biggest employers. Stonor was born in 1922, the son of a leading cotton broker who lost all his money in the 1929 Wall Street Crash. He left school at 14 and later went to work in the research department of a large electronics firm. After selling electronic equipment in London for three years. Stonor established his own business, Sound Diffusion in 1948 with an overdraft of £100 from his bank. Courteous, unassuming and generous, he never forgot the kindness people had shown him and his family when they hit hard times. He died in 2004.

645 - Scania Omnidekka carried name since September 2004 on Coaster 12. Changed to Metro 25 livery September 2008, and changed back to Coaster livery March 2009. Changed to Metro 49 livery September 2009.  Metro 49 branding removed May 2012. Bus sold in November 2020.