'Trailblazing' female bus driver gets blue plaque

A blue plaque has been unveiled at a bus station to mark the career of a "bus sector trailblazer".

Mary Curry was the first female bus driver at what was then called the Hants and Dorset bus company.

She passed her test in 1973, and continued driving until she was 68. The plaque in Winchester is the first in the country installed by lobby group Women in Bus and Coach.

Only 15% of bus drivers are women, and there is a campaign to get more female drivers behind the wheel.

Sitting in the front of a modern bus, Ms Curry said bus driving is much easier now than when she started.

"You don't have to find the gears," she explained. "You just press a thing that says D for Drive or R for Reverse, and you're gone. It does the rest for you.

"When I learned to drive, it was double-declutching and no power steering. You needed big arm muscles."

Women in Bus and Coach has plans for many more of the blue plaques.

Director Kerri Cheek said: "In some places, the ratio of women drivers is as low as one in 10.

"There is a lack of women at all levels, from front line drivers through to senior management.

"There can be a macho culture, and that's really not something you want in any modern business.

"It can put people off seeing buses as a place for them, particularly those from minority groups, having that lack of representation, not seeing yourself reflected in those roles."

Today the buses in Winchester are part of Stagecoach. At its eight depots across Hampshire, West Sussex and Surrey 16% of the total workforce are women, while 50% of the senior leaders are women.

Kasia Pyczek, who started driving buses in 2011 and has since been promoted to inspector, and now depot controller in Winchester, said: "This is a perfect job for ladies, really.

"You go round, see lots of different people. You can do full or part time. The job suits your needs."

Mary Curry said she could not understand why there are not many more women following in her footsteps.

"I didn't find it difficult being in a man's world," she said. "Not at all. I would do it all again, if I had the chance."