Tommy Nelson, asbestos campaigner and founder member of Clydeside Action on Asbestos, has passed away, aged 83.

Today the staff at Action on Asbestos will say their final goodbyes to a legend who fought tirelessly for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos condition.

Phyllis Craig MBE, Director of Action on Asbestos: “I met Tommy Nelson twenty-six years ago when I first came to work at Clydeside Action on Asbestos. Both he, and his colleagues and friends Harry McCluskey and Iain McKechnie, ran the charity. Tommy was the treasurer and one of the best treasurers you could ever have, always making sure every penny was accounted for.  But Tommy was so much more than that, as he put his heart and soul into making sure that those who had been diagnosed with an asbestos condition were treated with dignity and respect.  He did this in the various campaigns he undertook in order that he got justice for those who had been diagnosed with a condition caused through no fault of their own.”

…he put his heart and soul into making sure that those who had been diagnosed with an asbestos condition were treated with dignity and respect.

In 2009, at the 25-year anniversary of the charity, Tommy was honoured to receive a lifetime achievement award. He was so proud, but we were more proud because of the foundation he had laid for all of those with an asbestos condition to benefit because of his legacy.

Tommy Nelson was an honourable man who will be so sadly missed. Phyllis.

Tommy Nelson (right) with Harry McCluskey receiving their Lifetime Achievements Awards for their dedication to people with asbestos-related disease.
Tommy Nelson (right of picture) with Harry McCluskey receiving their Lifetime Achievement Award for their campaigning and dedication to those diagnosed with asbestos-related disease
Jimmy Dempsey (left) Harry McCluskey (centre) & Tommy Nelson (right) are, sadly, no longer with us but their legacy lives on in the campaigning work and the commitment Action on Asbestos has to help those living with asbestos and industrial disease.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.