Roy Hackett - Civil Rights Campaigner

ROY HACKETT Civil Rights Campaigner1928 – 2022

Roy Hackett’s legacy written by his nephew, Derek Ferguson

In 1962 in Bristol, Roy Hackett’s wife, Ena, applied for a job as a bus conductor. Despite meeting all the requirements, she was turned down. When she returned home and told Roy, it was widely suspected that the real reason was the colour of her skin. Roy decided enough was enough — action needed to be taken.

At the time there was no Race Relations Act, and employers could not be prosecuted for racial discrimination. Yet even in the early 1960s, Bristol’s colour bar on the buses stood out. Non-white drivers and conductors were working across much of the UK. Just 12 miles away in Bath, Black crews worked on buses, and London Transport had even travelled to Barbados to recruit workers to come to the capital. For Bristol’s Black community, the city’s history as a major slave port — with streets and landmarks named after the slave trader Edward Colston — remained a powerful reminder of inequality.

Roy Hackett joined forces with other residents of St Paul’s and helped form the West Indian Development Council to campaign for equal rights. A young activist, Paul Stephenson, became their spokesperson. They brought their case to the Bristol Evening Post and spoke to students at the University of Bristol. Soon the wider Bristol community joined the campaign, leading to the Bristol Bus Boycott. Thousands of people walked to work and bus services were brought almost to a standstill. After three months, the bus company backed down and workers voted to employ Black and Asian drivers and conductors.

Tony Benn, then a local MP, promised that if Labour won the next election under Harold Wilson they would change the law — and they did. The Race Relations Act of 1965 was introduced, making the Bristol Bus Boycott a key catalyst for national change. The law introduced fines of up to £5,000 for racial discrimination (around £125,000 in today’s money). However, it was not until the 1968 Race Relations Act that protections were extended to housing and employment.

Roy was also a founding member of the Commonwealth Coordinated Committee (CCC) in 1962. From 1968, the CCC organised the St Paul’s Carnival in Bristol. The carnival is older than the famous Notting Hill Carnival in London and became one of Bristol’s largest annual events. The CCC later became the Bristol West Indian Parents and Friends Association (BWIPFA), where Roy served as Chair. BWIPFA ran the carnival for 20 years before stepping away when it became more commercialised, as they did not want people to be charged for stalls.

BWIPFA also organised annual trips across Europe for members of the Black community, helping broaden horizons and experiences. Roy was known for his determination to see projects through, and he helped many people from the Caribbean with paperwork and support to come to and remain in the UK, often gaining assistance from prominent supporters.

In 1990, Roy helped establish the Bristol Race Equality Council, whose charitable aims were to eliminate racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different racial groups.

Roy received many honours for his work. In 1993, he was recognised by the Jamaican High Commissioner for his outstanding contribution to the community and received Maundy Money from the Queen. In 2020 he was awarded an MBE for services to the community and received the honour from Prince Charles (now King Charles III) at Windsor Castle. In 2022, the University of Bristol awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Science degree in recognition of his work.

Even in later life, Roy continued to share his story. Up to the age of 91, he gave talks in schools, colleges, and universities, appeared on television and radio, and was frequently quoted in newspapers including the Bristol Post and The Guardian. Numerous documentaries and online videos have been made about his life. On 13 December 2022, the Bristol Bus Boycott campaigners were collectively awarded the Freedom of the City of Bristol by Bristol City Council.

Roys message was simple:“Always try your best and make the most of your education. Education proves what you are capable of and helps you grow. Think about your future children and how you can help create a better world for them.”