Helen Clifford was just 18-years-old when she made transport history.
It was 1984 when she qualified to become London Transport's first female bus mechanic, after completing training at West Ham Garage.
Working at the Finchley bus garage (where she was filmed for a Thames News segment, below) Clifford went on to become a bus driver, a role that London Transport only permitted women to do from 1974. The first to do so was Jill Viner that same year.
Now, Clifford has not one, but two plaques installed in her honour, as part of the Women in Bus and Coach Blue Plaque Scheme: one unveiled at Stratford Bus Interchange, the closest site to the now-closed West Ham Garage; the second at Covent Garden's London Transport Museum, located next to an existing plaque for Jill Viner. (Two plaques commemorate Viner too; one at the museum, another in Kingston.)
"When I started out, I simply wanted to do a job I loved"
Said Helen Clifford, who attended unveiling ceremonies at both plaque locations in May 2026, "It's incredibly special to be recognised in this way, and to share the moment with my family makes it even more meaningful.
"When I started out, I simply wanted to do a job I loved, but I'm proud to know that it helped challenge perceptions and create opportunities for others.
"Seeing how far the industry has come since then is truly rewarding, and I hope my story encourages more women to consider a career in transport."
"She broke barriers at a time when the transport sector was overwhelmingly male-dominated"
Added Laura Hadzik, Chair of Women in Bus and Coach: "Today is about recognising not just one remarkable woman, but a turning point in our industry's history. Helen Clifford broke barriers at a time when the transport sector was overwhelmingly male-dominated, and her determination opened doors for countless women who followed."
However, massive disparity remains in the industry. Between 2022-2024, 87% of the UK's bus and coach drivers were male. That's admittedly still better than 2013-2015, when that figure was 92%, but there's a way to go until equilibrium can be claimed.
Helen Clifford continues to drive buses today, not in London, but in Perth, Scotland.
