5000 UK asbestos deaths remembered in bulb planting

Bulb planting ceremony

Autumn sunshine greeted visitors to Rochdale’s beautiful Memorial Gardens to thank Rochdale Council’s Environmental Services Department and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BCTV) for all their recent work around the International Asbestos Memorial.    

The short ceremony was attended by members of Friends of the Memorial Gardens, the Save Spodden Valley campaign. Simon Danczuk represented Rochdale Labour Party and the Trade Union movement. Receiving thanks at the ceremony for their work were Gemma Cockley, Steve Fleming, Steve Crew representing Rochdale Council.

Five thousand crocus bulbs have been planted to represent the numbers of UK deaths the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) attribute each year to asbestos related disease.  They have been planted in clusters- this reflects the clusters of asbestos disease around the UK and beyond due to the past use of asbestos products.
 
White and purple were chosen as the predominant colours: white for remembrance and purple as the colour of the ribbons worn to remember those who have died as a result of their work. 
 
It is hoped they will be in full bloom by late February in time for Action Mesothelioma Day. There are currently 2000 UK deaths each year from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.

Since the Asbestos Memorial was unveiled in 2006, the poignant Rochdale memorial has welcomed visitors from all over the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and the USA.
 
In 2007, Australian asbestos victim groups supplied a eucalyptus tree to create a permanent bond between Rochdale and the pacific states that are now facing an asbestos disease epidemic.
 
As the birthplace of the world's asbestos textile industry Rochdale is a fitting place to remember the dead and fight for the living.
 
Roger Chadwick reflected on the modest ceremony: “When we see the thousands of fragile flowers next spring that each represent a life taken by asbestos, we will resolve to ensure that this carnage comes to an end, by ensuring environmental and health and safety laws are honoured in Britain and that there is a global ban of asbestos still peddled by a few nations to the developing world”.