A commemorative plaque has been unveiled to honour Mary Curry, who was one of the first two women to qualify as a professional bus driver for Hants & Dorset in 1973.
Ms Curry herself attended the unveiling ceremony in Winchester last Thursday after Women in Bus and Coach, in partnership with Stagecoach, organised the plaque.
It is the first plaque to form part of a new national initiative by Women in Bus and Coach to recognise trailblazing women across all roles in the coach, bus and community transport industry.
Representatives from Stagecoach, Women in Bus and Coach, key local dignitaries were also in attendance to pay tribute to the trailblazing woman who stepped into a role traditionally dominated by men.
Ms Curry drove buses until she was aged 68 in 2007 but continued working for Stagecoach in Winchester at the Bar End depot until her retirement in 2019, aged 80.
Marc Reddy, Managing Director for Stagecoach South, says: “Mary Curry’s story is one of perseverance, courage, and breaking boundaries. By recognising her, we hope to continue inspiring more women to consider careers in bus and coach driving.
“Her legacy lives on in every woman who has taken the driver’s seat and continues to challenge outdated norms in the industry.”
Ms Curry and the other pioneering colleague, Mary Gardiner, who left the buses in 1974, learned to drive on an old Bristol double-decker. She had started working for King Alfred Motor Services, which was taken over by Hants & Dorset, as a conductress in 1961 and took a career break from 1969 to 1971.
Louise Cheeseman, Women in Bus and Coach chair, adds: “Mary Curry is a true pioneer, and we are honoured to have celebrated her achievement at Winchester Bus Station, where she started her journey.
“This plaque is a testament to her trailblazing spirit and the progress we continue to make in promoting equality and inclusion in the workplace and we look forward to unveiling many more across the country in the months to come.”
