Racism activist Stephen Higgins dies after health battle

Stephen Higgins previously said he wanted to see more conversations about "how we eradicate racism from society"

An inspiring community activist who ran racism awareness sessions in schools has died aged 47.

Stephen Higgins was the chairman of not-for-profit group Bury St Edmunds for Black Lives (BSE4BL) in Suffolk.

He previously told the BBC the group's work was encouraging school pupils to have "difficult conversations" with others.

"We remember him as a powerful activist," BSE4BL founder Evelyn Polk said.

Leading tributes, Ms Polk added the group was "devastated and deeply saddened" by Mr Higgins' death following "personal health battles".

Mr Higgins also regularly performed with his reggae band Rebel Unit

The 47-year-old became BSE4BL's chairman following its inception in 2020 and became "the driving force" behind its work.

A series of workshops ran by Mr Higgins in schools, set up after the death of George Floyd, were praised by teachers last October.

Mr Higgins said at the time that pupils wanted "to talk about something that actually makes a difference".

'He'll never be forgotten'

Ms Polk added: "When Stephen spoke in front of a room of adults or school children about race and racism, they hung on to his every word, he was amazing.

"He was a person who knew the impact of words.

"His want for change was so impactful and his resilience to push through and do the work while dealing with personal health battles was inspiring.

"He'll never be forgotten for the change we know he made."