First Eastern Counties reveals bus to celebrate Norwich Pride

Local bus operator, First Eastern Counties, has today revealed the results of its ongoing partnership with local volunteer organisation, Norwich Pride in the form of a single deck bus wearing a bespoke livery to celebrate both the upcoming national Pride month and the Norwich Pride event on July 29th.

Designed by Norwich Pride volunteer, Paul Bale, the eyecatching livery has been designed to match the group’s established publicity style, and incorporates local landmarks sitting alongside the iconic Norwich Lion, suitable adorned with Pride colours.

Having been completed in time for the national Pride month of June, the bus will operate on many of the Network Norwich bus routes all across the city on a daily basis, and will then form a central part of the displays around Theatre Street and Chapelfield Gardens during the Norwich Pride event on Saturday 29th July.

It is hoped that the bus will become a high-profile way of raising awareness of the Norwich Pride group, whose volunteers work as a central part of the LGBTQIA+ community on their mission to establish Norwich as a city where everyone can feel safe and proud to be themselves.

Robert George, Head of Fundraising for Norwich Pride, said, “We’re delighted to have this superb bus to raise awareness of Norwich Pride and to help make LGBTQIA+ people from Norwich and the surrounding area feel connected to each other and the wider Pride movement across the city.

“And what better and more sustainable way for people to travel to the Norwich Pride event on Saturday 29th July in this, our 15th year, than by bus.  On Saturday 29th July we’re expecting around 15,000 people to descend upon the city centre to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all its forms at one of the city’s largest and most loved free events.

David Jordan, Senior Marketing Manager for First Eastern Counties Buses said, “We’re so excited and privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside Norwich Pride and their extremely talented designer Paul, on this amazing project.

“We’re sure that the eyecatching livery with its vibrant colours and local theme will certainly turn heads when the bus is out and about on our network and we’re proud to be able to continue our support for the wider Pride movement in our workforce and communities by working positively and creatively to challenge prejudice and discrimination of any kind.