Paul Stephenson OBE was a trailblazing civil rights activist whose fearless campaigns transformed race relations in the UK. As Bristol’s first Black social worker, he witnessed firsthand the discrimination faced by Black and Asian communities and dedicated his life to challenging injustice. In 1963, he led the Bristol Bus Boycott, inspired by the U.S. civil rights movement, successfully overturning a ban on Black and Asian bus drivers. His courageous stand against segregation in pubs, which led to his arrest for refusing to leave the Bay Horse pub without being served, further highlighted the racial inequalities entrenched in British society.

Stephenson’s activism was instrumental in securing the first Race Relations Act in 1965, laying the foundation for anti-discrimination laws in the UK. Beyond legal change, he helped establish charities and community initiatives, including the Bristol Black Archives Partnership, the Muhammad Ali Sports Development Association, and the Cleo Laine Schools' Music Awards, ensuring a lasting impact on education, sports, and Black British history. His passing in 2024 marked the loss of a true pioneer, but his legacy endures in every fight for racial justice, every opportunity won, and every voice now heard because of his tireless work.