A garden for families to remember loved ones killed by 'The Swindon Disease' has reopened almost one year after it closed.

The Mesothelioma Garden in Queen's Park first opened in 2003 as a place for residents to remember their loved ones affected by the disease, but was closed in December 2023 after it was deemed ‘too dangerous’.

The original garden was a Japanese-style one and featured a pergola with seating and a centrepiece memorial stone engraved with lines from Shakespeare.

But South Swindon Parish Council released plans and designs for a new look for the garden when repairs began.

The Mesothelioma Garden, which reopened on Friday, October 11, has now been redeveloped by Queen’s Park Head Gardener Richard Pincheon to improve accessibility while providing a peaceful space for reflection and remembrance.

The garden offers a space of remembrance and reflectionThe garden offers a space of remembrance and reflection (Image: South Swindon Parish Council) Mesothelioma, often referred to locally as the 'Swindon Disease', is a form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, commonly affecting the lungs, heart, abdomen and other vital organs.

The disease has had a significant impact on the Swindon community, particularly due to its prevalence among former workers of the Great Western Railway.

Between 1981 and 2017, 237 men from Swindon lost their lives to mesothelioma, highlighting the devastating long-term effects of industrial asbestos exposure.

“Over the years I have been honoured to represent many families from Swindon and Wiltshire who have had their lives devastated by mesothelioma and asbestos disease,” said Jennifer Seavor, a solicitor and partner at RWK Goodman who attended the opening.

“I know how valued the Queens Park Mesothelioma Memorial Garden is to people and am delighted that the garden has been renovated.

The garden was first opened in 2003, and has been closed for almost a yearThe garden was first opened in 2003, and has been closed for almost a year (Image: South Swindon Parish Council) “I hope it will continue to be a place where those impacted by the tragic legacy of asbestos disease left by Swindon’s proud industrial heritage, can go to remember loved ones, reflect and hope for a future where asbestos is no longer taking lives.”

The Mesothelioma Garden was originally built inside Queen’s Park by Swindon Borough Council following a successful appeal by the Swindon Advertiser which raised £12,000 for the garden.

Councillor Linda Kasmaty, Chair of Leisure, Environment and Amenities at South Swindon Parish Council, added: “It's so good to see this project reaching fruition; the garden is a lovely place for quiet contemplation. 

“The refurbished Mesothelioma Garden is a real asset to Queen's Park and a reminder of the impact of this terrible disease.”

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