EVERY morning for the past eight years John Hambridge has cheerfully greeted motorists as they leave their cars at Brighton station.

John, 74, hands commuters their car park tickets and chats to them before they leave to catch their trains to work.

But next week passengers will see John in his familiar position for the final time. He has been forced to retire - and will be replaced by a machine instead.

John worked on the railways for 50 years and was employed as a guard on the last Brighton Belle service from Victoria to Brighton in 1965.

For the past eight years he has been rising at 3am to take up his post in the ticket box at the station car park.

John is being laid off as part of an upgrading plan which includes new automatic barrier-ticket systems, better lighting and security cameras.

He said he would be sad to be finally severing his links with the railway, but added: "I'll try and find myself a job somewhere else. I've never been idle in my life and I don't intend starting now."

John has received scores of goodwill messages and handshakes since the news broke.

Several commuters have handed him gifts and all those interviewed by the Argus were angry with his employers, Connex SouthCentral.

One said: "We love him and they should keep him on. Fancy getting rid of him just before Christmas."

Commuter Richard Creasy said: "John is pretty much the only pleasant face we see at the station every day and he does a great PR job for the station."

Peter Callard, a career counselling manager from Worthing, shook John's hand yesterday and said: "He is always cheerful and helpful, and says silly little things to you.

"He makes you feel better at the start of the day. You can't replace a man like him, especially with a machine."

John knew one of his regulars, Lucie Holmes, so well that he sent a congratulations card to her home in Telscombe Cliffs when she gave birth to daughter Liberty.

Lucie said: "I think it is scandalous he's being sacked."

Friend Lisa Plant, from Peacehaven, said: "John's such a lovely bloke and I hope they change their minds.

"I'm worried that if they replace him with a machine it will break down and bring traffic jams and chaos in the mornings."

Isabel Miles-Foster, who works for American Express, said she was upset and shocked.

"I hope they have a rethink and keep him on. There's no replacing the personal touch he gives to everyone using the car park."

Connex insisted the planned improvements would make life

easier for commuters.

Spokesman David Ewart said: "John retired and was taken back on a casual basis as a temporary measure.

"He has done a great job and we do appreciate what he has done. The station manager is planning a dinner for John and his wife as a thank you.

"But we want to improve and upgrade the car park for users, and we do not anticipate breakdown problems with the new machinery.

"There will be a two-ramp entrance system, machines will take most denominations of coins and there will be two new machines for season-ticket holders to use."

The improvements are little consolation to John and wife June, 68.

She said: "John has been miserable since receiving the letter. He is just not the same man."

John, born in Chesterfield, joined the railways in 1940 and first worked in Wimbledon on steam trains.

He moved to Brighton at 17 and became a "lamp boy", switching a red lamp from one end of the train to the other when it arrived at the station.

He said: "I've loved working with the public - but I suppose you can't go on for ever."

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