This week sees the 50th anniversary of a community bus service which has given village residents the same freedom to travel as their urban counterparts.

Cuckmere Buses celebrated its Golden Anniversary on October 26. Initially it ran two services between the villages of the Cuckmere Valley and the towns of Hailsham and Seaford. Commercial services to villages like Alfriston and Alciston had been withdrawn in 1971, but local pressure persuaded the authorities to try a new volunteer-run service from 1976. Services ran four days a week and this continued until 1997 when expansion started.

Cuckmere Buses is now a company limited by Guarantee and a charity. It now operates a fleet of nine 16-seater low-floor minibuses on 20 different routes, with almost 50 trained volunteer drivers and other non-driving volunteers. It is based in Berwick and its launch was supported by East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and Southdown Motor Services (the local National Bus Company subsidiary.)

It has worked in close partnership with local communities, including parish councils, to develop its network of routes. Funding has been sourced from several providers, but most notably the operation of tendered local bus services which are funded by ESCC as part of its 'Rider' supported bus network.

placeholder image — Cuckmere buses. Photo: Contributed

In the year 2000 the service won the first ever 'Buses for Pleasure' award in the Bus Industry Awards presentations for its services aimed at improving access to the countryside and local attractions for people without the need to travel by car. In 2006 it was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services, the highest award that can be bestowed on a group of volunteers and equivalent to an MBE for individuals.

In 2025 the company carried more than 88,000 passengers and recorded a surplus of nearly £10,000 which will be ploughed back into the fleet.