Tribute to CAG Founder David Colraine

It is with great sadness that we were informed of the death of the highly respected founder of Clydebank Asbestos Group, David Colraine, who passed away at home on Saturday, 17th January. This was unexpected and came as a great shock.

While it is  widely known that David was a founding member of CAG, it is less well known that every Friday for a long period in the early nineties, he attended asbestos activist meetings in Glasgow city centre, developing his knowledge to prepare for establishing an asbestos group in Clydebank.

Because of his natural modesty it could be forgotten that it was David who secured the group's first successful funding application which was for £5,000 from West Dunbartonshire Council. This grant was endorsed by Bill Clark who is now a trustee of CAG. This is an important milestone in the history of this group.

For thirty years he was centrally involved in all of the group's many activities which included him organising a stall at the annual Glasgow Mayday March, which raised the profile of CAG throughout the trade union movement.

On a number of occasions, David led a delegation from CAG to the National Hazards conference, which was held in Manchester most years. This was always a great success with presentations from CAG warmly received by delegates from all parts of the UK.

Many times, he represented this group at meetings and events at the Scottish Parliament and was a key member of the team that successfully secured many improvements in legislation that benefitted asbestos sufferers and their families. This included the groundbreaking introduction of compensation for pleural plaques, which to this day is not payable to victims in England and Wales.

David was always a reliable and highly regarded representative for Clydebank Asbestos Group, greatly respected by colleagues, local and national politicians and the families who benefited from his expertise and commitment to truth and justice.

What makes his achievements even more outstanding is that for many years David was burdened by ill-health but at no time did this dampen his spirit or diminish his commitment to supporting asbestos victims and their families.

It would be remiss of any tribute to the memory of David Colraine not to mention the contribution made to his work by his loving wife Jean who was a great support in all that he achieved, always without fuss and with great modesty from both. His family should be proud of the life he led.

He will be greatly missed by all at Clydebank Asbestos Group and the many people who were helped by his efforts.

Written by Tommy Gorman