A short history of

The history of Brighton, Hove & District Omnibus Company Limited is fairly recent, not beginning until 26 November 1935 when the interests of Thomas Tilling Limited (Brighton & Hove section) was incorporated. The Company was wholly owned by Tillings and even the day-to-day operations were controlled from London.

Upon formation, the fleet consisted of 131 buses, the double-deckers comprising 1 Tilling-Stevens TS3A petrol-electric, 110 open-staircase London ST-type A.E.C. Regents, 8 London STL-type A.E.C. Regents, 6 Dennis Lance also with STL-type bodies, and 6 single deckers, 4 Dennis Dart and 2 Dennis Ace. The script-style Tillings fleetname was replaced with a gold leaf `Brighton Hove & District` fleetname upon the dark red livery. In 1936 an open-top service was started that ran along the coast between Rottingdean and the Hove/Portslade boundary initially using re-bodied ST-type A.E.C. Regents which were also lengthened, and painted in a new all-over cream livery. The open-top service still operates today by the successor, Brighton & Hove Bus and Coach Company.

Above: Amongst the Lodekkas purchased during the 1960s, fifteen were of the rare FSF type. No. 32 is seen whilst under Southdown ownership, at Old Steine, Brighton, 1972.

fleetname was introduced `Brighton Hove & District Transport`, again in the same gold leaf style, the Corporation vehicles only being distinguished by the Brighton coat-of-arms being displayed on their vehicles. A new livery of red with cream window surrounds and roof was introduced. The Corporation would operate 27.5%, BH&D gaining 72.5%. As part of the 1938 Agreement, the Corporation would replace their trams with motor buses and trolleybuses and BH&D gained the distinction of being the only Tilling (and later British Transport Comission from 1948, Transport Holding Company from 1962) fleet to operate trolleybuses (of similar appearance to the Corporation vehicles). In total BH&D would operate 11 trolleybuses.  

1938 was a milestone year in that agreement was reached with Brighton and Hove Corporations and so both BH&D and the Brighton Corporation Transport Department would pool all mileage and revenue and operate in common livery and fleetname. A new