Town's cancer memorial garden given revamp

A memorial garden dedicated to those who have died from a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, has reopened.

The Mesothelioma Garden, in Queen's Park, Swindon, which originally opened in 2003, has undergone an extensive renovation.

Mesothelioma is sometimes referred to locally as the "Swindon disease", because of its impact on men who worked in industries such as the town's railway and carriage works.

Queen's Park head gardener, Richard Pinchon, from South Swindon Parish Council, said he was "proud" to have worked on the garden.

"It was a pleasure to design, both my grandads worked on the railway," he added.

Mr Pinchon explained that a nod to industry had been included with steel planters, but they were "mindful" not to overdo the theme in order to be sensitive to those affected by mesothelioma.

He said that before the renovation, the garden had been become "a bit tired", with the changes made to improve accessibility and ensure it remained a suitable space for reflection.

Rachel Lane, a solicitor from RWK Goodman who handles claims for mesothelioma, attended the opening and explained people exposed to asbestos in the 1970s and 80s were still being diagnosed.

"It's a very aggressive form of cancer of the pleura (tissue that lines some major organs) and you can get it in other areas of the body.

"It's almost entirely related to exposure to asbestos," she said.

Ms Lane added that it was "very prevalent" in industrial communities, like Swindon.

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