Paul Stephenson OBE (1937–2024) was a British civil rights activist and community leader best known for leading the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott against racial discrimination in employment. As a result of his successful campaign, the Bristol Omnibus Company was compelled to end its colour bar, which contributed to the 1965 Race Relations Act. The following year, in 1964, Stephenson made headlines again after refusing to leave a pub that denied him service, sparking a national debate on racism. Building on his activism, he later worked for the Commission for Racial Equality and collaborated with figures like Muhammad Ali on community projects. Honoured with an OBE in 2009, Stephenson remains a defining figure in Britain’s civil rights history.

Ref: Text (Wikipedia), Images (BBC).