Salisbury Reds has named a BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV single-decker after the city’s first woman bus driver, Gwen Watton.
Ms Watton passed her PCV test and began driving buses with Salisbury Reds predecessor Wilts and Dorset in 1972. She has been followed on that career path in the city by hundreds of other women. While Ms Watton died in 2018, members of her family joined the operator for the naming ceremony.
General Manager of Salisbury Reds Andrew Sherrington has described Ms Watton as “a trailblazer” who despite numerous setbacks, was accepted for training by Wilts and Dorset over 50 years ago.
Her whole career was spent driving buses both in Salisbury and between the city and London. Naming of the vehicle is something that the Go-Ahead subsidiary hopes will inspire other women to pursue a career driving buses.
Continues Mr Sherrington: “We wanted to recognise Gwen’s accomplishment, so we have named one of our buses after her.
“Sadly, she passed away in June 2018, but we were pleased to welcome members of Gwen’s family for the unveiling – and we are all looking forward to seeing the bus making its way along many of the routes that she drove for so many years.”
He adds that while women continue to be underrepresented in the sector, “we are working hard to change that by holding special recruitment days to highlight the benefits of a bus driving career – with the opportunity for potential applicants to take to our current female team members about what it is like working for Salisbury Reds.”
In a statement, Ms Watton’s family says: “This honour is a beautiful way to remember our mother’s contributions. Though she never sought recognition, she would be deeply touched, and we hope that her legacy encourages future generations of women to pursue this career path.”
