Glen Merryman

Said the following about David Hickson:

“Sometimes you just need to find that person that makes a project (Vision) happen for you, David Hickson is that Person.........

Brighton Pride is one of the largest international Pride festivals, attracting over 400,000 visitors. The festival hosts a number of separate events including parades and concerts. The event this year, on 3-5 August, saw Britney Spears headline the Saturday evening concert and Nile Rogers and Jess Glynne on Sunday. These international acts reflect the growing popularity of this event.

Southern has supported Brighton Pride for many years through a loose involvement with the planning and the provision of additional services to serve the event.

Southern have a fantastic team of Pride Champions, and the team had a vision this year to support the event by, changing the Southern logo and incorporate the Pride flag on our trains.

In order to do this we needed to find someone supportive to help bring our vision alive. Along can David, the most straightforward guy we have worked with in such a long time.

David was so helpful and accommodating and so supportive of what the GTR Pride champions wanted to do. He contacted the sign company, placed the signage order, took delivery and organised for the sign writing to take place by a fleet of engineers.

David was just so practical and supportive, and without his help and support this vision would never have materialised.

The specially designed colourful logos were applied to the front and back carriages of 12 trains. Staff also joined in the spirit of the occasion by decorating the station with bunting, dressing up and wearing glitter.

This statement of the logo was also praised by the local Brighton MP and in the local press.

Sometimes you just need to find that supportive, helpful hands on person that is willing to help you, and it goes without saying this is David.

The visual and MP feedback can be provided to re enforce the reason why this great person should be recognised. “