946 Dame Gracie Fields
Connections with Brighton and Hove : Most people associate the singer and music hall star Gracie Fields with Rochdale, her home town. But Fields, despite her strong Lancashire accent, also had an affinity with Peacehaven in Sussex. She bought a home in Dorothy Avenue and later turned it into an orphanage for children of people in the theatre. She attended the opening in 1933. The home continued through the Second World War but eventually closed after 30 years through lack of demand. She described it as the best investment she had ever made. Gracie Fields made her first stage appearance aged 12 and between the wars was one of Britain’s biggest stars. Her trademark song Sally was sung at every performance and she made a highly successful film called Sally in our Alley. Gracie Fields entertained troops at shows during the war and was still popular afterwards although never to the same extent as before. She spent increasing amounts of time in Capri and it was there that she died aged 82 in 1979. Earlier that year she was made a Dame. Gracie Fields visited Peacehaven until ill health prevented her travelling and many people there still remember her.
930 Mercedes Streetdeck - carried name since delivery in April 2015 on Coaster Route 12. Name originally displayed as Gracie Fields, Dame added May 2015. Name removed June 2017. Name re-appeared in October 2017 on bus 946.