Visitors to Kingston’s newly refurbished Cromwell Road bus station can now see a permanent plaque honouring Jill Viner, London’s first woman bus driver. This tribute celebrates Viner’s pioneering role in the transport industry and her contributions to breaking barriers for women in the field.
Jill Viner made history in May 1974 as the first woman to drive a London bus licensed to carry passengers. She achieved ‘driver seniority’ on 25 May 1974 after formally qualifying as a driver, paving the way for women to professionally operate passenger buses. Based at the Norbiton bus garage—now no longer in existence—she regularly drove around southwest London. One of the first routes she covered was Route 65, which originally ran between Chessington and Ealing. Today, the route operates between Kingston and Ealing, maintaining a connection to her legacy.
Viner retired from driving buses in 1993 and passed away in 1996. Her story remains a powerful reminder of the progress made in opening up opportunities for women in transport.
The newly unveiled plaque is a collaborative initiative between Transport for London (TfL) and Women in Bus and Coach. The plaque is located outside the western entrance of the Cromwell Road bus station, which reopened in November 2024 following an extensive refurbishment.
Lorna Murphy, TfL’s Director of Buses and Women in Bus and Coach Director, said: “It seemed only fitting we should honour Jill Viner with a permanent Women in Bus and Coach plaque, celebrating her as London’s first woman bus driver at the newly re-opened 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, added: “Jill Viner was a pioneer, and we’re proud to have unveiled this new permanent plaque in her honour today. As an organisation, we strive to promote the current work of those within the bus and coach industry to encourage others to consider this as their future. But it is equally important to recognize our past and the dedication of women who broke barriers in times when it wasn’t the norm for women to work in this sector. We hope our work continues to expand opportunities for women.”
The plaque serves as a lasting tribute to Jill Viner and her groundbreaking achievements, inspiring the next generation of transport professionals and reinforcing the message that the bus and coach industry is a place for everyone.
You can find out more about Jill Viner at the London Transport Museum by visiting: Jill Viner: London’s first woman bus driver | London Transport Museum
From left to right, the image at the top of the page shows: Sir Ed Davey (Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Kingston and Surbiton); Sarah Olney (MP for Richmond Park); the Worshipful Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Councillor Liz Green; Lorna Murphy (TfL’s Director of Buses and Director of Women in Bus and Coach); and Councillor Nicola Nardelli (Liberal Democrats), Portfolio Holder for Transport, Waste & Recycling (Transport Lead) for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
