Hailsham Mayor to join Cuckmere Buses' 50th anniversary celebrations

Hailsham Town Council is pleased to announce that the Mayor of Hailsham, Councillor Chris Bryant, will attend a special evening of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Cuckmere Buses on Friday 23 October at the Alfriston Hotel.

The milestone event will bring together invited guests to celebrate five decades of community transport, recognising the organisation's vital contribution to connecting rural communities across the Cuckmere Valley and surrounding areas. The evening will include a reception, dinner and anniversary celebrations, with photographs and memories from the organisation’s history shared as guests reflect on its achievements and lasting impact.

The Mayor's attendance will provide an opportunity to recognise the dedication of Cuckmere Buses' volunteers, whose commitment has helped sustain an essential local service for half a century.

Cuckmere Community Bus first began operating in October 1976, following the withdrawal of commercial bus services to several rural villages in 1971. With support from East Sussex County Council and Southdown Motor Services Ltd, a new volunteer-run service was established to help residents maintain access to reliable and affordable public transport.

Initially operating two services between villages in the Cuckmere Valley and Hailsham or Seaford, the organisation ran services four days a week, from Tuesday to Friday. This original pattern continued until 1997, when expansion began to build on the foundations of those pioneering routes.

Today, Cuckmere Buses is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity, operating a fleet of nine 16-seat, low-floor minibuses across 20 different routes each week. Its service is supported by just under 50 trained volunteer drivers, alongside other volunteers who contribute their time and skills to keep the organisation running.

In 2025, Cuckmere Buses carried more than 88,000 passengers and recorded a surplus of nearly £10,000, which will be reinvested in its fleet and services. These figures demonstrate the continuing demand for community-led transport and the importance of maintaining accessible connections for people who may otherwise struggle to travel independently.

The anniversary celebration will provide an opportunity to look back on the organisation's beginnings, share stories and photographs from five decades of service, and acknowledge the people who have helped Cuckmere Buses develop into the valued community transport provider it is today.

Hailsham Mayor, Councillor Chris Bryant said: "Reaching 50 years is a remarkable achievement, and I am delighted to be joining Cuckmere Buses for this special anniversary celebration. Its history demonstrates what can be achieved when communities come together to meet a genuine local need."

"Reliable transport can make an enormous difference to people's everyday lives, helping them stay connected with friends and family, attend appointments and access essential services. The dedication of Cuckmere Buses' volunteers over five decades deserves real recognition, and I look forward to celebrating their achievements and hearing the memories that have shaped this important organisation."

Cllr Paul Holbrook, the Town Council's representative for Cuckmere Buses, commented: "Cuckmere Buses is a wonderful example of community spirit in action. For 50 years, it has helped people stay connected, providing an invaluable service to residents across our rural communities. Its success is built on the dedication of its volunteers, whose time and commitment have made a real difference to so many people's lives."

"This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate everything the organisation has achieved, recognise the people behind its success and look ahead to the next chapter. My fellow town councillors and I are delighted to see Cuckmere Buses reaching this significant milestone and offer my congratulations and thanks to everyone who has helped make it possible."

Hailsham Town Council congratulates Cuckmere Buses on its 50th anniversary and recognises the contribution it continues to make to rural communities, helping residents and visitors travel with greater independence while preserving valuable connections between local towns and villages.

The anniversary celebrations on Friday 23 October will honour the organisation's remarkable journey from two initial services to a much wider network supporting tens of thousands of passenger journeys each year.