London's first female bus mechanic honoured with blue plaque

"“another blow has been struck for sex-equality in London Regional Transport. And it has been struck in a most masculine of worlds - that of London's bus mechanics”"

"“Helen Clifford, aged just 18, who qualified after completing a course at West Ham bus garage. She wasn't finished either, having already qualified as a B-class bus driver to drive buses around the garage, and was working toward the City and Guilds exams in motor vehicle craft studies.”"

"“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.”"

"“By honouring Helen Clifford with a blue plaque, we are recognising not only her remarkable achievement as the first woman bus mechanic, but also the many wome”"

In August 1984, Helen Clifford qualified as London Regional Transport’s first woman bus mechanic after completing a course at West Ham bus garage. She also qualified as a B-class bus driver to drive buses around the garage and continued studying toward City and Guilds motor vehicle craft exams. Her first mechanic role was as a general hand at Finchley garage, later working at Stamford Hill. After 18 years as a mechanic, she continued driving buses, later working for Stagecoach in Perth, Scotland. In 2024, a blue plaque was unveiled near the former West Ham garage at Stratford bus station to mark her barrier-breaking achievement and recognize women in public road transport.

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