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Civil rights leader's extraordinary life in pictures

Sarah Turnnidge
BBC News, Bristol
Fumi Stephenson Dr Paul Stephenson, in an official RAF picture. He is looking away to the right of the image and wearing a blue cap with a gold badge on the front. Fumi Stephenson
Dr Paul Stephenson's life will be celebrated during a service at Bristol Cathedral

Bristol will remember the life and achievements of one of the UK's leading civil rights campaigners during a cathedral service later.

Dr Paul Stephenson, who led the Bristol Bus Boycott and helped pave the way for the Race Relations Act in the 1960s, died in November aged 87.

From humble beginnings in the East of England, Dr Stephenson became known nationwide through his campaigns, and forged relationships with some of the most famous figures of the 20th Century.

Ahead of a service marking his extraordinary life's work at Bristol Cathedral on Friday, his daughter Fumi Stephenson has shared a selection of family photos telling his story.

Fumi Stephenson A black and white photo of Dr Stephenson as a young child, wearing a light coloured jumper. He is being held by his foster mother in a garden. Both are laughing and smiling at the camera. Fumi Stephenson

During World War Two, Dr Stephenson was evacuated to Essex, where he was taken in by foster mother Ma Fisk.

She became "a beloved guardian", Ms Stephenson told the BBC, who her father spoke about with "great affection".

Fumi Stephenson A head-and-shoulders picture of Dr Stephenson as a child. He is smiling at the camera and wears a light-coloured checked collared shirt. Fumi Stephenson

Ms Stephenson said education "became both a battleground and a beacon of hope" for her father, adding that he was "determined" to disprove people who underestimated him because of his race.

"He often spoke about teachers who discouraged him from aspiring beyond manual labour, yet he refused to accept their limitations," she said.

"Looking back, I see how my father's childhood shaped him into the leader he became. His story is one of resilience, courage, and a relentless pursuit of justice."

Fumi Stephenson Mr and Mrs Stephenson in a black and white wedding picture. They are inside, with framed pictures behind them, and are dressed in their wedding clothes. Dr Stephenson is wearing a dark suit and tie with a flower in his button hole, while Mrs Stephenson wears an ornate white lace dress, a large fluffy veil and a tiara in her hair. Fumi Stephenson

Dr Stephenson and his wife Joyce married within a year of meeting, a connection their daughter attributed to a "shared vision for life".

They remained together until Mrs Stephenson's death in 2019, a "partnership" - Ms Stephenson said - that was "not just of romance, but of purpose".

Dr Stephenson being interviewed by the BBC. The picture is in black and white and he is mid-speech, looking down slightly and wearing a smart suit and tie. You can just see part of the interviewer's face to the left of the shot.

Dr Stephenson was one of the leading figures of the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, a sixty-day campaign which began after a young black man was refused an interview for a job on the city's buses because of his race.

The ensuing protest attracted nationwide attention and was instrumental in paving the way for the country's first Race Relations Act in 1965.

The picture above is from a BBC interview with Dr Stephenson just after the campaign's victory, in which he said he was "very pleased indeed" that the Bristol Omnibus Company had dropped its discriminatory hiring policy.

Fumi Stephenson Dr and Mrs Stephenson (second and third left) sit with Paul Dankworth and Cleo Laine (to their right). They are sat in what appears to be a large hall, as though they are about to watch a performance, and are all dressed smartly. Fumi Stephenson

While he would return to Bristol decades later, Dr Stephenson left the city in the 1960s - first for Coventry and later London.

While away he became involved with a number of community initiatives, including setting up a school music award with acclaimed jazz singer and actress Cleo Laine.

The picture above shows Dr Stephenson and Mrs Stephenson (second and third left) with Ms Laine (second right) and her late husband, fellow jazz musician and composer John Dankworth (third right), who were described by Ms Stephenson as fellow "influential figures in the fight for racial equality".

Fumi Stephenson Dr Stephenson (right) pictured with Muhammad Ali. Dr Stephenson is smiling at the camera in a shirt, tie and light coat, and appears to be walking with Mr Ali who is wearing a tie and dark jacket, and is smiling at a different camera. Fumi Stephenson

While in London, Dr Stephenson also forged a relationship with one of the most famous figures of the 20th Century, boxer Muhammad Ali.

"Their story began in dramatic fashion," Ms Stephenson said.

"As Ali was preparing to board his flight back to America, my father ran after him, calling out to him as Muhammad Ali rather than his former name, Cassius Clay.

"That moment caught Ali's attention, and from there, they began a conversation that would lead to both a personal and professional relationship."

This chance meeting eventually led the pair to co-found the Muhammad Ali Sports Development Association (MASDA) in Brixton, which was set up to create opportunities for young black people.

Fumi Stephenson Dr Stephenson and Tony Benn walk down the platform of Bristol Temple Meads with a group of people. Mr Benn, who is wearing a dark coat and red tie, is smiling and turned to Dr Stephenson, and has his hand on his arm. Both are smiling at each other in greeting, and the people around them are walking and smiling at them too. Fumi Stephenson

Dr Stephenson's wide network also included a decades-long friendship with the Labour politician and former cabinet minister Tony Benn, who supported many of his initiatives.

Describing Mr Benn as a "grandfatherly figure", Ms Stephenson said: "Even as he grew older and his health declined, Tony continued to board the train from London to Bristol, determined to attend as many of my father's events as he could.

"His presence was a reminder that solidarity requires action, not just words. He didn't just support my father's causes from a distance - he showed up, time and time again."

Fumi Stephenson Dr Stephenson smiles as he receives his OBE from Queen Elizabeth II. He wears a dark grey suit and a striped tie, and the medal is partially visible on his lapel. The late Queen can be seen only from behind and is wearing a red or orange dress, with a diamond necklace. Fumi Stephenson

In 2009, Dr Stephenson was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II, an honour his daughter described as being of "immense pride" for their entire family.

"That day was not just about an award - it was about the decades of perseverance, sacrifice, and change that my father had fought for," she said.

Fumi Stephenson A group of people pictured with drinks inside a club, all of them smiling at the camera. Dr Stephenson is on the far left of the image, while Tony and Lalel Bullimore are in the centre wearing a bright blue shirt and a black and white flowery dress respectively. Fumi Stephenson

Back in Bristol, Dr Stephenson remained close friends with Tony and Lalel Bullimore, who founded the iconic Bamboo Club in St Pauls - described by Ms Stephenson as "one of the first multi-racial music venues of its time".

Mr Bullimore went on to gain worldwide fame in the 1990s when he survived for four days in the upturned hull of his boat, which capsized during a solo round-the-word race.

"The connection between my father, Paul, and Tony Bullimore was immediate and undeniable," Ms Stephenson said.

"They became close friends, sharing not only a love of music but also a vision for a world where people from all walks of life could come together.

"Their friendship lives on in me, and I carry the memories of those days with great pride and gratitude."

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