Swindon is a small town in the United Kingdom where being diagnosed with mesothelioma is so common that residents call it the “Swindon disease.” To honor the memory of those who’ve been lost to the rare, asbestos-related disease and to raise awareness of the dangers of exposure, dozens of victims’ families met in Queen’s Park, where a memorial garden has been planted in their honor.
Mesothelioma and Britain’s Industrial Legacy
Mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases have touched hundreds of families in Wiltshire, the UK area where Swindon is located. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 45 people from the area died of the disease between 2020 and 2024, and 330 since 1981. One woman, Liz Emms, lost her husband, Melvin, to asbestos-related lung cancer in 2024, less than three months after he was diagnosed. Looking back, the widow remembers seeing asbestos on his clothes during the years he spent as a plumber and heating apprentice.
The high rate of mesothelioma diagnoses in Swindon is directly linked to the town’s industrial history. Swindon was home to major railway manufacturers during the 20th century. Workers handled asbestos used in locomotives, boilers and pipes. More broadly, asbestos was used in shipbuilding, construction and manufacturing throughout Britain. Though the country banned both blue and brown asbestos in 1985 and white asbestos in 1999, the UK still has one of the highest mesothelioma rates in the world.
Mesothelioma Compensation in the UK
The justice system in the United Kingdom is very different from the United States, and that has a direct impact on the amount of compensation that mesothelioma victims receive. Claims are generally filed against former employers and their insurers, and damages are determined by judges based on established guidelines rather than leaving the decision to juries. If no employer or insurer can be identified, there is a government-backed fund available, along with state disability benefits. By contrast, in the U.S., victims can pursue justice from manufacturers of asbestos products by filing personal injury claims. They can also file claims with bankruptcy trust funds set up by asbestos companies that went bankrupt.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
