Brighton and Hove bus boss to retire

The managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses is to retire.

Roger French, 58, is stepping down next March after 30 years at the company and 27 years in charge.

The number of people using the bus has grown significantly since Mr French moved to Brighton in 1982 with the number of journeys made by bus doubling in the past 20 years.

Mr French said: “After 30 years of being involved in running buses in Brighton and Hove, I have decided it’s now time to relax and enjoy my retirement.

“Of course, I shall miss working with all my fantastic colleagues in the bus company in Brighton and Hove as well as the many friends and colleagues I’ve worked with over the years.

“I’ve been very lucky to work with such a great bunch of people in a fantastic part of the country for so long and will always be grateful to everyone for the help and encouragement they have given me.

“It’s been a particular pleasure to be part of the Go-Ahead Group for the last 19 years.”

Roger French

Mr French’s career in the bus industry began in 1970 when he was a student working during the summer holidays for London Transport.

He worked at the head office in central London and as a bus conductor in north London.

He joined the National Bus Company graduate management training scheme in Yorkshire with the West Riding and Yorkshire Woollen bus companies.

He then became a district traffic superintendent in Ashford with the East Kent company and area manager with South Wales Transport in Swansea.

In 1982 he came to Brighton and Hove to work as assistant traffic manager for the Southdown bus company, which became part of what is now Brighton and Hove Buses.

Mr French has been involved in running the buses in Brighton and Hove ever since.

He became manager of the new Brighton and Hove division of Southdown in preparation for deregulation and privatisation in 1985.

He was then involved in the management buyout of the newly reformed Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company in 1987 and its subsequent sale to the Go-Ahead Group in 1993.

Mr French oversaw the successful acquisition and merger of the Brighton Transport company in 1997 and the purchase and integration of Stagecoach’s Lewes-based operations in 2005.

And he secured the domain name www.buses.co.uk for the company’s website ahead of rivals.

Mr French is chairman of the Local Strategic Partnership, the Brighton and Hove Business Forum, the Hove Business Partnership, the Chamber of Commerce executive committee and the Martlets Hospice.

Mr French is also a member of the city’s Economic Partnership, Transport Partnership and the Hove Business Association’s management committee and is a trustee of the Argus newspaper’s charity, the Argus Appeal.

He was appointed an OBE for services to public transport in 2005 and in 2007 he was awarded an honorary MA by Brighton University and became Deputy Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex.

In 1999 he was named Businessman of the Year at the Sussex Business Awards and in 2006 he was recognised for making an Outstanding Contribution to Sussex at the Argus Achievement Awards.

And last year he was recognised for his years of service to the bus industry with the prestigious Services to the Bus Industry Award at the UK Bus Awards.

During his tenure the Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company has also won a plethora of awards.

In June 2010 Mr French published “Pride and Joy – my amazing 25 year journey with Brighton and Hove Buses”.

The book sold nearly 2,000 copies and helped raise about £30,000 for two local charities.

During his retirement Mr French plans to spend time pursuing his passion for travel and transport.