There have been very many books published about Southdown Motor Services. Some are illustrated text books and others are packed with many and varied images. Both types have provided useful to me whilst adding detail to the site – especially when it comes to vehicle history, locations (where I can’t quite remember!) and dating some of my own images.
More specialist books published by the PSVCircle or Southdown Enthusiasts Club have also been invaluable in researching vehicle history, particularly some of the finer detail during the period covered by this website.
The list below is not exhaustive or a definitive list of books on the subject, they are the ones I have dipped into to a greater or lesser extent when researching the history of the vehicles illustrated on the site, and more generally in my interest in the Company.
Southdown Motor Services Ltd Fleet History 2PKI (1972) Covering the fleet from inception 1915 to 1935.
Southdown Motor Services Ltd Fleet History 2PKII (1974) Covering the fleet from 1936 to 1974.
Southdown Motor Services Ltd Fleet History 2PKIII (1986) from 1969 to 1986 and Brighton Hove & District O C Ltd
All published jointly by The PSV Circle and The Omnibus Society
All of these books are invaluable for the detail they contain – especially when you consider that they pre-date PCs!
Changing Colours (1981) Listing the application of National Bus Company fleetnames and livery to the fleet.
Southdown Double Deckers 1946 – 1957 (1978) A class history
Southdown Album 1954 – 1979 (1979) A book that marked the Silver Jubilee of the Southdown Enthusiasts Club
A Complete Fleet List of Southdown and Brighton Hove & District – 1970/1973/1974/1975/1976/1977/1978/1979/1982/1984
All published by the Southdown Enthusiasts Club
National Bus Company 1969 – 1988 Fleet History Series No.15 Southdown Motor Services/BH&D
Published byMAPgroup (2015?)
A great ‘follow on’ book to the fleet history from PSV Circle/Omnibus Society
Southdown Vol. 1 – The History – Colin Morris (1994)
Southdown Vo. 2 – The Details – Colin Morris (1994)
Published by Venture Publications
An excellent pair of books that tell the whole story.
British Bus Systems No.6 – Southdown – Colin Morris (1985)
Published by The Transport Publishing Co.
One of a series of fascinating company histories covering many well known operators across the country.
Leopards Prowl around Southdown and beyond – Paul Llewellyn (2020)
Published by Paul Llewellyn
A fantastic history of all the Leyland Leopards supplied to Southdown as service buses. Packed with great illustrations and facts and figures for every vehicle.
The Southdown Queen Marys – A Souvenir – Julian Osborne (2004)
Published by DTS Publishing
A book that is packed with detail about the Queen Marys, history’s, technical detail, anecdotes and many illustrations.
Glory Days – Southdown – Glyn Kraemer-Johnson & John Bishop (2001)
The Heyday of Southdown – Glyn Kraemer-Johnson & John Bishop (2003)
Southdown Days – Glyn Kraemer-Johnson & John Bishop (2005)
Southdown in NBC Days – Glyn Kraemer-Johnson & John Bishop (2008)
Southdown Memories – Glyn Kraemer-Johnson & John Bishop (2009)
Published by Ian Allen
All of these books are essentially collections of images shared with the readers to celebrate everything Southdown. They are also great reference books when looking at the changing scenes in the operating area with regard to buildings, roads etc.
Southdown Style – Glyn Kraemer-Johnson (2015)
Southdown at War – Colin Druce (2015)
Southdown in the 1930s – Colin Druce (2017)
Southdown in Austerity – Colin Druce (2019)
Published by Capital Transport
All of these books are a fascinating read, well-illustrated, packed with interesting facts and lots of great images.
Southdown Buses – Michael Hymans (2016)
Coaches In And Around Brighton – Simon Stanford (2019)
Life After Southdown – Simon Stanford (2020)
Southdown Ancillary Vehicles – Simon Stanford (2022)
Published by Amberley Books
All of these are collections of photos, many of which are published for the first time. Coaches in and Around Brighton covers several independents from the area and is not exclusively Southdown which makes an interesting comparison.
Fares Please – The History of Passenger Transport In Portsmouth – Eric Watts (1987)
Published by Milestone Publications
Great reference for anyone with a particular interest in the western extremity of Southdowns operating area.