The first female London bus driver who encountered sexism doing her job

How many times has a child told you they want to drive a London bus when they grow up? Something about their bright red colour, the jolly passengers and ringing bells is a perfect concoction for childhood fantasies.

How many times has a child told you they want to drive a London bus when they grow up?

Something about their bright red colour, the jolly passengers and ringing bells is a perfect concoction for childhood fantasies.

In 1960, eight-year-old Jill Viner dreamed of becoming a London bus driver, but that was far from the done thing for a young woman in those days.

Although female bus conductors became a common sight in the First and Second World Wars, as women filled jobs while men were fighting abroad, driving was still a ‘reserved occupation’ for men.

Defying the expectations of her day, Jill’s dream came true when, in 1974 she passed a course at Chiswick Training School becoming London’s first female bus driver aged just 22.

She went on to drive buses from Norbiton bus garage in South London until it closed in 1993.

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A news reel from the year Jill started shows exactly what people thought of women doing ‘men’s work’ back then.

“There’s be no display of female power,” says the newsreader. “She’ll wear trousers.

“With a pretty girl like Jill at the wheel, who’s complaining anyway?”

Although London buses are still mostly driven by men today, at least they don’t have to stand for that kind of sexism.

Jill died in 1996 having made a mark on history that means other little girls can now live their dreams of driving London’s famous buses.

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