Black civil rights hero and activist Roy Hackett has died at the age of 93.
The community campaigner, who was one of the organisers of the Bristol bus boycott, now leaves behind three children.
After fighting to overturn a ban on employing Black and Asian bus drivers and conductors, the trailblazer went on to co-found the Commonwealth Coordinated Committee which set up the St Paul's Carnival in 1968. Alongside campaigners Paul Stephenson, Owen Henry and Guy Bailey - Roy was part of the first boycott of its kind in the UK in 1963.
The Boycott lasted for four months and changed the lives of Black and Asian people in Bristol.
People from the Bristol community have paid tributes to the legend, who received an OBE in 2009 and an MBE in 2020.
Deputy mayor of Bristol, Asher Craig, said: "The transition of Mr Hackett has hit many of us really hard. A humble, principled, freedom fighter - Bristol Bus Boycott, St Paul's Carnival, Bristol West Indian Parents & Friends Association, Bristol Race Equality Council - his legacy will live on."
While Bristol Lord Mayor, Paula O'Rourke, also paid tribute, saying: "So very sad to hear Bristol civil rights legend Roy Hackett, organiser of the Bristol bus boycott 1963 and founder of St Pauls Carnival has passed away.
"My thoughts are with Roy's family and friends at this difficult time."
Race thinktank Runnymede Trust also paid tribute saying they were “deeply saddened” by his passing.
Roy fought against racism during a time when it was legal for companies to deny people jobs based on their skin colour.
By challenging the status quo, the Jamaican-born father-of-three succeeded in making Bristol Omnibus Company overturn its racist policy which paved the way for the Race Relations Acts of 1965 and 1968.
As a self-proclaimed “born-activist”, he founded and led the West Indian Parents' and Friends' Association.
