‘Formidable’ civil rights campaigner honoured

Mrs Dettering was awarded the degree for her "unwavering" commitment to social justice

A civil rights campaigner has received an honorary doctorate for her instrumental role striving for racial equality and social justice.

Barbara Dettering, 85, received the honorary of Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Bristol (UoB).

During the ceremony she was described as a “formidable force for change” whose efforts had "helped shaped the landscape of civil rights in Bristol and beyond”.

Mrs Dettering played a pivotal role in the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963, which led to the country's first ever racial discrimination law, and co-founded the annual St Pauls Carnival in 1968.

Over six decades, and alongside work as a social worker, Mrs Dettering has fought racial segregation, health inequality and housing discrimination.

Mrs Dettering gave a speech at the ceremony to inspire her fellow graduates

After emigrating to Bristol from British Guiana, now known as Guyana, in 1961, Mrs Dettering co-founded the Bristol West-Indian Parents and Friends Association, which played a key role in the bus boycott by putting pressure on Bristol City Council to act.

The boycott in 1963 came after a young black man in the city was refused an interview for a job on the buses because of the colour of his skin.

It sparked a protest which attracted national attention, and within five years the Race Relations Act had banned all discrimination in the workplace.

Mrs Dettering remembers marching the streets and advocating for change amid the constant threat of violence, at a time when racist discrimination was rife.

When asked why she got involved, she simply said: “I just like helping people.”

The Bristol Bus Boycott began after the city's leading bus company, Bristol Omnibus Company, refused to employ Black or Asian bus crews

In 1968, Mrs Dettering co-founded the St Pauls Carnival as a celebration of Caribbean culture.

"[In the UK] there was segregation at the time and we thought we’d do something for ourselves," she said.

What started as a community fair in a school car park has now evolved into a major cultural event that attracts more than 100,000 people each year.

In 2019, Mrs Dettering was immortalised as one of the ‘Seven Saints of St Pauls’, a series of murals to honour black contributions to British history.

Her advice for young people wanting to spark meaningful change today is to stay "dedicated".

She said: "You’ve got to know what you're doing and just persevere and continue and continue. Reach for the stars."

Dr Gournet (R) commended Mrs Dettering's (L) "unwavering" commitment to social justice for more than six decades

Following the graduation ceremony on on 1 August, Dr Marie-Annick Gournet, associate professor in Lifelong Learning and Inclusive Pedagogy at UoB, described Mrs Dettering as a “formidable force for change”.

She added: “As we reflect on Barbara’s extraordinary journey, let us draw inspiration from her unwavering commitment to justice and her relentless pursuit of equality.

“Her story reminds us that each of us has the power to make a difference and that through unity and perseverance, we can overcome the challenges that lie before us.”

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