Names on the buses

426 Janet Brown

774 Janet Brown

Connections with Brighton and Hove : 1923 - 2011
Actress, comedian and impressionist Janet Brown was born in Rutherglen near Glasgow, Scotland. She was the daughter of a shipyard worker. She started to impersonate the celebrities of the day as a teenager and won local talent contests. She was also working in a shop at the time. During the Second World War, Janet volunteered for the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women's branch of the Army. She joined an entertainment ensemble providing shows for troops serving in Europe. In the 1950s, she worked in variety, as a children's TV presenter and actress. An uncannily accurate impersonation of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher led to a regular TV spot with popular impressionist Mike Yarwood. In 1981, she was given her own show, 'Janet and Company' that had millions of viewers. Janet did excellent impressions of other people, but it was those of Margaret Thatcher that made her a much-loved fixture of TV entertainment in the 1970s and '80s. The identical clothing, hair, mannerisms and distinctive voice were highly regarded. Janet was so good, she even played Margaret Thatcher in the James Bond film 'For Your Eyes Only'. Far from being offended, Margaret Thatcher herself was impressed. The two women became friends, meeting occasionally at Downing Street and Chequers. Following Margaret Thatcher's re-election to government in 1983, she wrote to Janet "I half expected to find you at No 10 before me!" Janet had many more strings to her bow and continued to act on stage and TV. In 1987 she wrote her autobiography, 'Prime Mimicker'. A fan of Brighton & Hove and the Sussex countryside, Janet lived in the city for many years. She died in a Hove nursing home and is buried at Danehill near Sheffield Park, East Sussex.

426 Volvo Gemini - carried name since delivery March 2012 on Route 1. Repainted into Regency livery with Drusillas adverts April 2016. Front also wrapped in June 2016. Brighton & Hove added to front June 2018. Drusillas wrap removed September 2019 and full Regency livery added. Repainted into new Regency livery May 2022. Bus transferred to Metrobus in July 2025. Name reappeared on 774 ADL Enviro400 in December 2025.