A open love letter to Brighton and Hove Buses

As the night draws to a close, visitors to Lewes will post photos online congratulating the huge communal effort to put on a night of beautiful display and tradition. Posting all over Instagram, their images of fireworks and people dressed up will sing the praises of the Lewes residents.

However, there will be another group of people who deserve equal gratitude and recognition. Those who helped the night be as magical as it should, and that is you, Brighton and Hove Buses.

Without you, many travellers may not have even been able to attend this legendary night. You may get a bad rap sometimes, however you came out in full force to make sure that Lewes Bonfire, and indeed many other firework events, ran smoothly.

This was at 6pm, Churchill Square. It only got busier

The additional services meant that people all over Brighton could experience the event, help with donations, and support such an amazing feat of village community the likes of which are incomparable.

The drivers, who may have families of their own to spend the night with, worked throughout the night under pretty stressful conditions to make sure that others could enjoy themselves. People when all is said and done will not get any credit for aiding our journeys.

You may indeed get the odd snob declaring that ‘well it’s their jobs, why should they get any praise?’. I say to them, where is Southern Rail? Was it not their job to help ordinary people get to and from Lewes? Instead, they used the situation for their own personal gain at the wrongful detriment of others and to that I say shame on you.

It fell down the the buses to pick up the slack. Those attending previous years know all too well of the packed trains and queuing in winding lines just to get to Lewes and back home. I consider it a incredible feat that you, Brighton and Hove Buses, managed to clean up the disgusting, filthy mess, left behind by the RMT.

I see little in the way of congratulations, practically ever, towards the transport services that work through the holidays. Perhaps it might not be given because it is not due, but it is clear to see that it is certainly more than due for you guys. I hope that other travellers would join me in saying thank you for helping us enjoy Bonfire night.