Great Western Railway celebrates Black History Month
GWR hosted 84-year-old civil rights activist Dr Paul Stephenson
Last updated 4th Oct 2021
Great Western Railway hosted a special audience with civil rights activist Dr Paul Stephenson to mark the start of Black History Month.
Dr Stephenson was joined by friends and members of GWR’s REACH network (Recognising Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage), on top of his very own train, for a journey from Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon.
During Black History Month last year, GWR named Intercity Express Train 800036 in tribute to Dr Stephenson.
GWR honoured Dr Stephenson to celebrate a lifetime spent campaigning for civil rights for the British African-Caribbean community.
The 84-year-old civil rights pioneer was awarded an OBE in 2009 ‘for his services to equal opportunities and to community relations in Bristol’.
In 2017 he also received a Pride of Britain Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Esther Deans, director of One Bristol Curriculum, joined Dr Stephenson in last week's audience.
The organisation works with schools to address diversity in the community by promoting unity through knowledge and awareness of others.
Ms Deans said: "Paul was so proud to have a GWR train named in his honour last year and events like this help to increase awareness of his pioneering work.
"Paul fought for equality and civil rights for more than 60 years and the closer relations we enjoy today between all the communities of Bristol are thanks to his unstinting dedication."
GWR Inclusion and Diversity manager Odis Palmer said the train operator was proud to have recognised Dr Stephenson as one of its Great Westerners - celebrating past and present heroes from across the network.
He added: "We are proud of our association with Dr Paul Stephenson and today’s event has been truly inspiring, learning more about his dedication to improving race relations and encouraging community involvement.
"Today was a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to ask questions and to celebrate Black contributions to British society. It was the perfect way to mark the start of Black History Month."
Leading a series of civil rights changes
In 1963, Dr Stephenson led a boycott of the Bristol Omnibus Company, protesting its refusal to employ Black or Asian drivers or conductors.
The company ended up revoking its colour bar, after a 60-day boycott supported by thousands of Bristolians.
A year later he also refused to leave a public house until he was served, resulting in a magistrates’ court trial which was dismissed.
Dr Stephenson’s campaigns were instrumental in paving the way for the first Race Relations Act in 1965.
He later worked for the Commission for Racial Equality in London.
In 1975 he was appointed to the Sports Council, campaigning prominently against sporting contacts with apartheid South Africa.
He was granted Freedom of the City of Bristol in 2007.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said: "Paul’s contribution to racial equality in Bristol extends beyond the stand he, Roy Hackett, Owen Henry, Audley Evans and Guy Reid-Bailey took during the Bristol Bus Boycott.
"He has continued to work for equality in Bristol, sharing his experience and expertise with us. I am delighted that GWR continues to honour Dr Paul Stephenson’s legacy in our city through this event."
Other Great Westerners to be celebrated on GWR’s Intercity Express Trains include:
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
- Bristol paramedic Kathryn Osmond, who fought to raise awareness of the skin cancer melanoma
- Fleur Lombard, the first female firefighter to die on duty in peacetime Britain
- George 'Johnny' Johnson, the last surviving British member of the Dambusters raid