First-ever Women in Bus and Coach plaque unveiled in Winchester
A plaque honouring Mary Curry, one of the first two women to qualify as a professional bus driver for Hants & Dorset in 1973, has been unveiled at Winchester Bus Station by Mary herself, joined by the Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith.
This is the very first Women in Bus and Coach plaque in the country. Its unveiling took place at Winchester Bus Station in partnership with Stagecoach and the event paid tribute to Mary’s remarkable contribution to breaking gender barriers in the industry and her lasting impact on generations of women drivers.
The Mayor said: “I am very proud to unveil this plaque honouring Mary - who lives in Meonstoke - and her wonderful achievements over her long career; she has so many wonderful stories to tell about her time on the buses including the day that a squealing baby was left at the Broadway!
“We are deeply honoured that our district is the first place to have a Women in Bus and Coach plaque; it’s a wonderful ‘first’ for Winchester and it’s really excellent that the scheme will then roll out all over the country.”
This national initiative by Women in Bus and Coach recognises trailblazing women across all roles in the bus, coach and community transport industry.
Louise Cheeseman, Women in Bus and Coach chair, said: “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.”
Marc Reddy, Managing Director for Stagecoach South, said: “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 Her legacy lives on in every woman who has taken the driver’s seat and continues to challenge outdated norms in the industry.”
https://womeninbusandcoach.org.uk/