B.A.T.S. & brighton memories, A personal view
It is fascinating to look at the different colour schemes and fleetname combinations that could be seen operating from 1972 until 1975, further compounded by the change in Corporation fleet livery. Still further, there were another group of vehicles that added further, individual vehicle additions to colourful spectrum of the Brighton bus scene at the time. These were the all-over advertisment liveries on a number of vehicles from both the Southdown and Brighton Corporation fleets. Readily coming to mind were the Barclaycard and Tesco Corporation Atlanteans, the Rediffusion, London & Manchester Assurance, and Roberts Off Licence Southdown Queen Marys or the Zetters Pools or Old Holborn Southdown VRs, to name but a few. And there were others at various times. Although looking no different when travelling on one, the chance to travel on something visually a little different was always a goal to a young enthusiast ! At least you knew if you had been on a particular bus without the need for checking fleetnumbers.
Another feature that made an impression was the actual bus stops as standard bus stop signs became the norm. Beneath the silhouette of a single decker was the initials B.A.T.S., the letters at the time I knew little of the significance but something of which all the same, I was aware, and source of bemusement. However those initials were something and brought together three operators from different operating bodies into a harmonious whole. Working together were a Corporation Transport Department, a nationalised company and private company in a sensible package that could do nothing but benefit the travelling public.
Perhaps any negative aspects of the era with regard to the bus scene were not something that any of the three companies or the Agreement had any control over. For this was the era when trade unions could and did make life difficult for the Management and passengers alike, in addition to the increase in fuel costs, staff shortages and unreliability of some of the new rear-engine buses; all factors that could be seen nationally not just locally. Certainly, the desire to convert to one man operation and the use of all-over advertisments were industry answers to a general down-trend in bus patronage. Coupled with the increase in car ownership was the general viewpoint that the bus driver was not such an attractive occupation, again a subject that could be seen nationally rather than a local phenomenom.
It can be very absorbing to ponder the events that took place, between 1969 andl 1974 in particular, especially if, for example, Brighton Corporation had not made the decision to change livery when it did. Would the Corporation have remained in red livery had the N.B.C. corporate livery been introduced earlier? Then there is the whole question of the merger between the Southdown and BH&D fleets. Similarly, would there ever have any green/cream livery Lodekkas had Southdown known a corporate image was to be imposed upon them. Then there is the question as to why an agreement between three operators continued once BH&D had effectively become a dormant company? All fascinating aspects to ponder. The series of events that occured during the B.A.T.S. era could so easily NOT have happened as it did, and certainly, considering all historical and political factors of that era, will never be seen again. Perhaps it was such a series of events that makes this sphere of the Brighton and indeed U.K. bus history so unique and has become an interest of such magnetude of interest for me.
