Names on the buses

729 Ivor Novello

Connections with Brighton and Hove : Ivor Novello had early success as a composer in the First World War with his song Keep the Home Fires Burning. But he was also a stage star from the moment he made his professional debut in the early 1920s. When his play The Rat went to Brighton, Novello took the title role. He had written the play itself, originally for a film. He took no fewer than 39 curtain calls on the first night. Although Novello was mainly London based, he often went to Brighton for holidays. While there he stayed in a house at Marine Parade which is now the Lanes Hotel. Born in Wales in 1893, Novello become best known between the wars for lavish musicals such as The Dancing Years. His success continued in the 1940s. He appeared in Hollywood films but his first love was always the stage. Many of his songs became classics such as We’ll Gather Lilacs. The Ivor Novello awards for music are named after him and there is also a West End theatre called the Novello. He died suddenly from heart disease in 1951 when he was only 58 and still at the peak of his powers.

729 Scania Omnicity - carried name since delivery in June 2009 in Coaster Sightseeing Express livery, branding removed September 2009. Repainted in April 2014. Route 2 branding added in May 2015. Route 2 branding removed February 2016. Bus sold in August 2016.