Johnsons Celebrate International Women's Day

Date Added 07/03/2017

International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8^th March every year and is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. It has been observed since the early 1900s and continues to grow from strength to strength.

Johnsons Coach & Bus Travel are proud to support International Women’s Day. Established for over 100 years, Johnsons have been employing women in a variety of roles in an industry usually associated with men.

Joan Johnson was one of the first female coach drivers in the industry. In the 1960s Joan Johnson passed her Coach Driving Licence because the coach operator were short of drivers and they couldn’t afford to take on anyone full time.

In 2017 we have 10 female bus and coach drivers now employed including Nedra Edgington who has been working for Johnsons for 11 years:

“I began working at Johnsons as a coach driver, but then joined the bus team as it offered more flexibility for family life. As a bus driver, I know what shift pattern I am on and can plan ahead, whereas for a coach driver, shifts change frequently and you are away from home a lot.

“I often get passengers doing a double take when they get on board and some are shocked that a woman is driving the bus. And, I have even overheard people discussing whether I am a school girl that has stolen the bus!

“It is a good laugh to work with so many men though and you have to develop thick skin as there is a lot of teasing, but this is not due to me being female!“