Bus drivers have marked the centenary of the first female bus conductor, or 'clippie', to start work in London with a commemorative ride around Peckham and Putney, writes Charles George.

Wandsworth Times:

Celebrating: Go-Adead workers Hannah Self, Marie Carter, Natasha Lambert and Lesley Haggerty

Mrs G Duncan started work with the Thomas Tilling Company on the 37 route on November 1, 1915.

And yesterday, a Routemaster bus traced the 37 route to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the occasion.

It was the outbreak of the First World War that helped Mrs Duncan’s career as thousands of men had been drawn into military service.

Although she was the first, the number of women working on the London general omnibus service grew to 4,600 during the Great War.

They played a major role in keeping London operating, and laid the foundations for female workers on the national transport services.

Leon Daniels, from Transport for London, said: "As the first female bus conductor, Mrs Duncan played a key role in our history and was one of hundreds of women who played such vital roles in serving London throughout the Great War."

Women still only make up 22.8 per cent of TfL’s total workforce and only 22.5 per cent of senior managers.

David Cutts, of Go-Ahead London’s, which now runs the 37 route, said: "The company pro-actively engages with its female workforce in order to make the job as attractive as it can be to women."