What kind of women are on the bus in the opening chapter of To Sir with Love?

Most of the women on the bus on London's East End are "noisy, earthy charwomen," women who clean houses or business offices for a living.

As Mr. Richard Braithwaite rides a double-decker bus on his way to Greenslade Secondary School, he is squeezed in beside a large woman with thick, dimpled arms, whose name is revealed in her conversations as Rose. The other women are similar, telling ribald jokes and discussing their various ailments, real or...

Most of the women on the bus on London's East End are "noisy, earthy charwomen," women who clean houses or business offices for a living.

As Mr. Richard Braithwaite rides a double-decker bus on his way to Greenslade Secondary School, he is squeezed in beside a large woman with thick, dimpled arms, whose name is revealed in her conversations as Rose. The other women are similar, telling ribald jokes and discussing their various ailments, real or imagined. These women are very earthy, not dissimilar from a few of the characters of The Canterbury Tales.

Ironically, the women have carried on in their dialect without regard for Braithwaite. But, when he cannot suppress his enjoyment of their naturalness--"...there they sat, large and vigorous, the bulwark of the adventurous"--Rose is surprised that he has understood her. She leans over and whispers in her friend Gert's ear, and then Gert passes it on, and the other charwomen giggle and nudge one another.

Then, after Rose grunts her way out of her seat and raises herself, she smiles widely at Mr. Braithwaite and bids her group good-bye at her stop. After this, a small boy almost sits down beside Braithwaite, but gives way to a lady who smiles in appreciation. However, when her eyes meet Braithwaite's, she rises immediately and will not sit despite the orders of the conductor, who tells her that standing is not permitted. This woman stands in sharp contrast to Rosie, who has squeezed herself in the seat with Braithwaite, oblivious to him as she has crushed her weight against him while conversing with her friends. Soon, Braithwaite reaches his stop, so he leaves his seat, and the woman then sits down, diffusing the anger of the conductor on the bus.