A plaque celebrating London’s first woman bus driver, Jill Viner, has been unveiled at Cromwell Road bus station in Kingston upon Thames.
The pioneering woman, who first carried passengers in 1974, retired in 1993 and died in 1996.
Ms Viner carried out her duties around south west London and was based at a nearby bus station in Norbiton, which no longer exists.
The plaque is part of ongoing work by Women in Bus and Coach to encourage more women into the industry.
The unveiling ceremony was hosted by Transport for London Director of Buses, Lorna Murphy. and Dawsongroup Bus and Coach Managing Director Paul Sainthouse, who are both Women in Bus Coach Directors.
Route 65, which was one of the first routes Ms Viner drove, still operators today between Kingston and Ealing.
Visitors to the newly refurbished Cromwell Road station can see the plaque outside the western entrance.
Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses, says: “It seemed only fitting that, in conjunction with Women in Bus and Coach, we should honour Jill Viner with a permanent plaque celebrating her as London’s first woman bus driver at the newly reopened Cromwell Road bus station.
“We hope this acts as a reminder that the bus and coach industry is open to all and inspires a future generation of bus drivers and staff.”
Louise Cheeseman, Founder and Chair of Women in Bus and Coach, adds: “Jill Viner was a pioneer and we’re proud to have unveiled this new permanent plaque in honour of her today.
“As an organisation, we look to promote the current work of those within the bus and coach industry to encourage others to choose this path as their future.
“But it is also important to recognise our past and the hard work and dedication of the women who broke through barriers during a time where it wasn’t seen as the norm for a woman to work in this kind of sector. We hope our work continues to increase the opportunities for women.”
