International Workers’ Memorial Day in Clydebank: Remembering David Colraine

International Workers’ Memorial Day has particular significance in Clydebank. It is a day to remember people who lost their lives or their health simply by going to work. 

For families affected by asbestos disease, that impact is still being felt today. 

Remembering David Colraine

On Friday I was proud to lay a wreath at the International Asbestos Memorial in memory of David Colraine, one of the founding members of Clydebank Asbestos Group (CAG). 

David recognised early on that people affected by asbestos disease were often left to cope on their own, many years after the exposure had taken place. He worked to change that and, alongside others, helped found CAG in 1992 to provide support, advice and information to victims of asbestos and their families.

Working alongside politicians across all parties, David pushed for changes to the law so that victims and their families could secure proper support and justice. This included the introduction of compensation for pleural plaques, a significant legal development at the time, which is still not available to victims in England and Wales.

David played an integral role in shaping Clydebank Asbestos Group into what it is today, helping create a lasting support network for the community he worked so hard to serve.

Significance of Asbestos in Clydebank

The unfortunate truth is that there has been no reduction in the number of people being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. That reality explains why the need for Clydebank Asbestos Group remains as strong now as it ever has been.

Clydebank earned a worldwide reputation through its shipbuilding and heavy industry, becoming a symbol of industrial strength. This brought work and growth to the area, but it also led to long-term health problems linked to asbestos used in the yards.

In 1996, the area was described as Britain’s ‘asbestos capital’. Health and Safety Executive figures from that year revealed a mortality rate 11 times above the national average.

Between 1976 and 1991, the area recorded the highest number of mesothelioma deaths in the UK. In recognition of this lasting impact, the Clydebank Asbestos Group unveiled a memorial in 2015, providing a place of remembrance for those affected and their families.

The memorial stands as a reminder of the human cost of Clydebank’s industrial past. It stands in remembrance of members everywhere who have died due to asbestos-related disease, while also acknowledging the many whose deaths were never recorded or recognised, serving as a memorial dedicated to both known individuals and those who remain unknown. 

Shipbuilding remains a source of pride, but the consequences of asbestos use cannot be separated from that history, and they continue to affect families today.

Clydebank Asbestos Group continues to provide practical support, campaigning, and help for those affected and Digby Brown is proud to support and work alongside the charity in that mission.

The Industrial Disease team at Digby Brown has the expertise and trusted reputation to make sure you and your family secure the rightful recognition and compensation you deserve.

If you think you have developed an asbestos-related condition due to exposure to asbestos at work, please contact our specialist solicitors for legal advice.

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Euan Love, Partner

Industrial Disease