Winchester's first female bus driver remembers career 50 years on

Mary Curry was one of two King Alfred female conductors who applied to be trained as bus drivers with the Hants & Dorset company in 1973.

The 83-year-old, of Pound Lane, Meonstoke, recalled that she completed her training on an old “Bristol” double-decker built in the early 1950s.

Mastering the vehicle meant being able to turn the heavy steering wheel and manage the crash gearbox with its big lever and heavy clutch pedal.

Mary went on to use her licence for 34 years until she reached the age of 68 in 2007. 

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She worked as a driver for a good few years before spending time as a cleaner and shunter at the depot, reverting to being a driver/conductor and later went back into the garage. 

Although she did not renew her PCV licence in 2007, she continued to work for Stagecoach at the depot in Bar End until retiring in 2019, at the age of 80.

Mary comes originally from Tilford in Surrey but moved to the Winchester area in 1948. In 1961 she joined King Alfred as a conductor. 

Looking back at how her career first started, Mary said: “My mother and I took the bus to Farnham in about 1945 and we broke down outside a pub. The driver and conductor had people in fits of laughter. That was it, from that moment I wanted to work on the buses. 

“I told my father who flew into a fit of rage, he told my 'no daughter of mine is going to work on the buses'. 

“I have loved every minute of it. Driving in Winchester was fine, I didn't mind it. Being a conductor was good, we had fun and lots of laughs. 

“When I first started, North Walls was two-way traffic. We had the best days.”

The King Alfred buses are out and about in the city, giving free rides on New Year’s Day, starting from the Broadway. 

For more information go to kingalfredbuses.org.