A celebration of the life of Bristol activist, community elder and civil rights pioneer Roy Hackett will be held in St Pauls next week. Tributes to Roy have been flooding in since his death at the age of 93 was announced last week.
One of the leaders of the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, which was essentially Britain’s civil rights movement that triggered equalities legislation through the 1960s and 1970s, Roy was awarded an MBE for his work in the community in Bristol. Roy went on to be a leader of the community in St Pauls for decades, helping to start the St Pauls Carnival, as well as the Bristol Race Equality Council.
It has now been announced that a celebration of Roy's life will take place at the Malcolm X Community Centre on City Road, St Pauls, next Friday, August 19 from 6pm until midnight. In a tweet, poet Lawrence Hoo said: "ON BEHALF OF ROY HACKETTS FAMILY
Read more: Bristol civil rights leader Roy Hackett dies aged 93
"Celebration of Life: Roy Hackett MBE. Please join us to celebrate the Life of my Amazing, Loving and Courageous Grandad ROY HACKETT MBE.
"All is Welcome. My Grandad touched so many people's hearts and lives. Please Share Thank you xxx"
In recent years, Bristol has begun more outwardly honouring Roy and the early community pioneers of St Pauls in the 1960s, with lifetime achievement awards, receptions and work in schools to teach younger generations of their achievements. The Seven Saints of St Pauls series of murals, which were completed in 2019, honoured the founders of the St Pauls Carnival - including Roy, whose mural is in a prominent position on the end of the terrace facing the St Pauls M32 junction.
Or rather it was - in 2021, the render and part of the wall on the side of the house collapsed and the rest had to be pulled down for safety reasons by the fire brigade - much to the shock of artist Michele Curtis, and the community in St Pauls.
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Bristol's first Black female Lord Mayor, Cleo Lake, is leading calls for the mural to be repainted as a tribute to Roy. "The Right Honourable Mr Roy Hackett transitions to become one of our mighty ancestors," said Cleo. "A life well lived with bravery and determination. Thank you, sir, and thank you Michele Curtis, for having the vision to honour Roy whilst he was alive. Lets hope the mural is restored as soon as possible," she tweeted.
His life and work in Bristol in the 1960s is now taught in schools - not as widely as many people think it should be - and his actions are the subject of plays in theatres and films. And the achievements of those who organised the bus boycott are now getting global attention - for example, last year music legend will.i.am met Roy as part of a TV documentary about modern Black history.
Read next:
- Bristol civil rights leader Roy Hackett dies aged 93
- 'A life lived with bravery' - tributes to 'Bristol giant' Roy Hackett
- Roy Hackett’s Activism is an Inspiring and Hopeful Legacy for the Next Generation
- How the Bristol Bus Boycott is being turned into a musical for the very first time
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