Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
800036 Dr Paul Stephenson
Civil rights pioneer Dr Paul Stephenson was present to see a train named in his honour on 30 October 2020 as Great Western Railway celebrated Black History Month.
Dr Paul Stephenson OBE
Dr Stephenson has been dedicated to fighting for equality and civil rights for the British African-Caribbean community for more than 60 years.
In 1963 he led a boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, protesting its refusal to employ Black or Asian drivers or conductors. After a 60-day boycott supported by thousands of Bristolians, the company revoked its colour bar.
Then a year later he achieved national fame when he refused to leave the city’s Bay Horse pub until he was served, resulting in a magistrates’ court trial of which he was rightly acquitted.
It was his determination to fight for an end to discrimination during these campaigns that led to Harold Wilson sending Dr Stephenson a telegram saying: “I will do something about this”. A year later, in 1965, the first Race Relations Act was passed.
He was awarded an OBE in 2009 ‘for his services to equal opportunities and to community relations in Bristol’ and in 2017 received a Pride of Britain Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said:
“Dr Paul Stephenson has been dedicated to fighting for equality and civil rights for more than 60 years and I’m delighted that Great Western Railway should choose to honour one of our greatest Bristolians in this way.
“Black History Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate Black contributions to British society and it is fitting that GWR has Dr Stephenson to the list of those Great Westerners whose names adorn its trains.”
800036 Dr Paul Stephenson
Civil rights pioneer Dr Paul Stephenson was present to see a train named in his honour on 30 October 2020 as Great Western Railway celebrated Black History Month.
Dr Paul Stephenson OBE
Dr Stephenson has been dedicated to fighting for equality and civil rights for the British African-Caribbean community for more than 60 years.
In 1963 he led a boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, protesting its refusal to employ Black or Asian drivers or conductors. After a 60-day boycott supported by thousands of Bristolians, the company revoked its colour bar.
Then a year later he achieved national fame when he refused to leave the city’s Bay Horse pub until he was served, resulting in a magistrates’ court trial of which he was rightly acquitted.
It was his determination to fight for an end to discrimination during these campaigns that led to Harold Wilson sending Dr Stephenson a telegram saying: “I will do something about this”. A year later, in 1965, the first Race Relations Act was passed.
He was awarded an OBE in 2009 ‘for his services to equal opportunities and to community relations in Bristol’ and in 2017 received a Pride of Britain Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said:
“Dr Paul Stephenson has been dedicated to fighting for equality and civil rights for more than 60 years and I’m delighted that Great Western Railway should choose to honour one of our greatest Bristolians in this way.
“Black History Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate Black contributions to British society and it is fitting that GWR has Dr Stephenson to the list of those Great Westerners whose names adorn its trains.”
