Hannah Dadds

Hannah Maureen Elsie Dadds ( Head, was a British train driver known for being the first female train driver on the London Underground.

Early life Hannah Dadds (née Head) Her mother was a home help and her father worked in the furniture trade. After leaving school at 15, she worked as a shop assistant at the Co-op, and later in the Bryant and May match factory and the Kensitas cigarette factory.

In 1978, Dadds completed a seven-week training course to qualify as a train driver, and became a driver on the District line. In doing so, she became the first female train driver on the London Underground. This was big news and newspapers and radio stations wanted to interview her after news of her appointment was leaked from head office. Instead of completing her training in the usual way, she was asked to stay off work for a few days to allow staff at 55 Broadway (London Transport's head office) time to organise a press conference.

Dadds worked as a driver with the London Underground until she took early retirement in 1993, after which she moved to Spain.

In 2004, she was invited to a Queen's Women of Achievement lunch at Buckingham Palace; other women attending that year included Margaret Thatcher, JK Rowling, Kate Moss and Charlotte Church.

Death and tributes Dadds died after a long illness on 26 November 2011 in Rainham, London. Speaking after her death, Howard Collins, chief executive of London Underground, said: "Hannah Dadds changed the working life of women on the Tube and the way in which many people viewed Tube drivers" and that "She was an esteemed member of our workforce."