684 Rev Frederick Robertson
687 Rev Frederick Robertson
773 Rev Frederick Robertson Names on the buses
686 Rev Frederick Robertson
Connections with Brighton and Hove :
1816 - 1853
Reverend Frederick William Robertson, known as 'Robertson of Brighton', was one of the most famous Anglican preachers of the 1900s. He was incumbent of the former Holy Trinity Chapel, at the junction of Ship Street and Duke Street, in Brighton.
Frederick only preached at Trinity Chapel for six years, from 1847, until his untimely death age 37. His charismatic, eloquent sermons were widely popular and always attracted large congregations. People would queue the length of Ship Street to hear him. He was revered by the wealthy, as well as the working class. Charles Dickens noted Frederick was one of the greatest masters of elocution he ever knew.
In 1849, he founded the Brighton Working Men's Institute in Middle Street, to provide a space for recreation, education and temperance.
Upon his death, some 1500 people followed his coffin as it made its way to the Extra Mural Cemetery in Brighton and many more lined the streets. Nearly all the shops on the route closed as a mark of respect. His tomb in the form of an Egyptian pylon is decorated with two bronze bas-relief medallions, one was a gift by his congregation and the other a gift from the Brighton Mechanics Institute.
Frederick lived mainly in the Montpelier area of Brighton. There is a plaque on his home in Montpelier Road and on the external facade of the former Holy Trinity church where he preached. The latter was purchased by the parish in 1902, on the anniversary of his death. His sermons were published posthumously, in this country as well as internationally and were translated into numerous languages.
686 Scania Omnidekka - carried name since delivery in October 2007 in Regency livery. Name moved to 684 in June 2008. Regency branding changed March 2011. Repainted into revised Regency livery October 2014. Regency branding removed May 2016. Name moved to 687 in August 2019. Name reappeared on 773 ADL Enviro400 in December 2025.