A First West of England bus swapped the streets of Bristol for the streets of London in a show of thanks to the pioneers of the Bristol Bus Boycott. The operator’s specially designed bus, which commemorates the move to end a colour bar to recruitment introduced on the city’s buses which had wide-ranging consequences for race relations, arrived at the Palace of Westminster for a parliamentary reception hosted by Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire to recognise 60 years since the boycott.
Among the guests arriving on the bus were Guy Bailey, who was refused a job as a driver because of the colour of his skin which sparked the boycott, as well as Bristol’s High Sheriff Sharon Foster, Bristol’s last bus conductor Hazel Bailey and a number of those who took part in the protest as well as their families and friends.
Those attending today’s celebrations were invited to a cross-party reception hosted by the Bristol West MP which focused on equality and inclusivity to mark October’s Black History Month. At the reception, the boycott protesters and supporters were thanked for their work in tackling inequality, and heard a number of speeches from politicians and boycott pioneers, before being taken on a tour of the Palace of Westminster and finally meeting Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Managing Director at First West of England Doug Claringbold said: “Today is another landmark moment in this year’s commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Bristol Bus Boycott. To be recognised and thanked right at the heart of Parliament will be a memory many of those who attended will cherish forever, and I’m so proud that our team at First West of England played its part in helping to make this moment happen.
“The boycott was a truly milestone moment in our history, and what the pioneers did 60 years ago, along with those who stood in solidarity, shows what ground-breaking change we can achieve if we work together.”
