This partnership provided Santa Claus with his very own Santa Bus, enabling him to travel across Brighton and Hove spreading festive joy and cheer while helping to raise money for good local causes.
Perhaps you remember its early days? We want to hear from anyone who has enjoyed it for years and will publish some of your pictures and memories of enjoying the Santa Bus with loved ones, telling us where you have loved seeing Santa.
So for its 20th anniversary the Brighton and Hove Buses’ Santa Bus is now raising money for 20 local charities, over 20 nights and travelling 20 different routes to celebrate 20 years of Christmas giving.
There have been so many wonderful Santa Bus experiences and stories from the last 20 years that we would like to celebrate by hearing some of your favourite moments.
Send us your favourite Santa Bus pictures from over the years (Image: Brighton and Hove Buses)
One of the people who helped start up the very first Santa Bus was Elsa Gillio who, until her retirement in 2018, headed up The Argus Appeal for The Argus newspaper. To this day Elsa still volunteers onboard the Santa Bus every year and was the original ‘Chief Elf’.
Elsa said: “Over the last 20 years the ethos of The Santa Bus has remained the same, spreading some festive joy to all while bringing Santa Claus to the people as not everyone can visit a local grotto. And all this whilst raising money for local good causes.
“So many people have a story to tell about the Santa Bus and this includes those who were once children themselves 20 years ago and who are now bringing their own children to see the Santa Bus. It would be really lovely to hear some of the Santa Bus stories that people have to tell.”
Ed Wills, managing director of Brighton & Hove Buses, added: “The Brighton and Hove Buses Santa Bus has become embedded as a main fixture into the city’s annual Christmas calendar.
“Every year many of our own colleagues, along with other from local businesses, volunteer their personal time to keep the Santa Bus rolling.
The Santa Bus has been running for 20 years
“Every night as we travel across the city we are hearing so many wonderful stories from people of what the Santa Bus means to them personally and so we really welcome The Argus’s campaign to bring some of these to life.”
The partnership between the buses, now also the Martlets charity and The Argus still continues 20 years on and has now expanded into one of Brighton and Hove’s largest free events, with many more charities benefitting each year.
Arron Hendy, editor of The Argus, said: “I see for myself how much joy the Santa Bus brings to our readers and it is fantastic to see Elsa still so heavily involved.
“Brighton and Hove Buses have been providing this joy for 20 years and they deserve a very big thank you for that. Many of us will remember seeing the bus in younger days and we want to hear your memories, how much you loved it then and now, perhaps with your own children?”
Send your safely taken pictures of yourselves enjoying the bus from then and now and let us know how long you have been enjoying it.
Email george.carden@theargus.co.uk to be featured in our coverage.
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