The Finale! Petersfield - Portsmouth - Southampton

Saturday 4th July

Our last day.
We thought there were no hills 'down south' but managed to find a few little breathtaking inclines on our last day on the backroads to Portsmouth then on to Southhampton.

Many thanks to all at HASAG for their wonderful welcome to Southampton to end our Breathtaking Journey.


This isn't the end of our blog. It remains very much a "work in progress" with additions and edits to the previous daily posts.

Thank you to everyone that has helped and been involved in a truly memorable and Breathtaking Journey.

We must never forget those who have died as a result of asbestos- all were preventable deaths.

We must ensure that future generations are kept safe from this cruel and deadly mineral.

And that current generations can get justice and access to medical treatment that they deserve. Their work contributed so much to our economy yet they have paid the ultimate price with their health.

On the first day of our journey we saw a banner with a simple message:

JUSTICE AND TRUTH.

The facts about asbestos are truly breathtaking. So are the brave people and communities we have visited.

Our journey has not finished.

Day 14: Kingston to Petersfield

The heatwave was broken last night with a rainstorm.
We cycled under welcome clouds with hot sun breaking through.

More chocolate box beautiful villages and undulent country lanes through Sussex into Hampshire - our final county.

A wonderful welcome in Petersfield.

Day 13: Reading - Westminster - Kingston

Here is a link to the Daily Mirror.


Hansard:

Mr. Michael Clapham (Barnsley, West and Penistone) (Lab): Will my right hon. and learned Friend join me in congratulating Katrina London, Jason Addy and Paul Glanville on undertaking the mesothelioma awareness ride? It will cover [1200] miles from Glasgow to
2 July 2009 : Column 486
Southampton, and today they arrive in London. The intention, of course, is to raise awareness of mesothelioma cancer, which is caused by exposure to asbestos, and at the same time to raise funds for the victims and to support the establishment of a national centre for asbestos-related diseases. Will my right hon. and learned Friend support the setting up of that centre?

Ms Harman: I congratulate Katrina, Jason and Paul on their mesothelioma awareness ride, and I congratulate my hon. Friend, who has probably done more than anybody in this House to raise awareness of this cruel disease, which mostly affects people through their workplace.




EARLY DAY MOTION 1808:

MESOTHELIOMA AWARENESS RIDE

02.07.2009

Clapham, Michael

That this House congratulates Katrina London, Jason Addy and Paul Glanville who are cycling 1,200 miles from Glasgow to Southampton stopping at cities along the route to raise awareness and raise funds for the victims of mesothelioma cancer and other diseases caused by exposure to asbestos and to obtain support for the establishment of a National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases.

Day 12: Birmingham to Reading

A scorching day with the tar melting on the country lanes from Stratford upon Avon.

Canada Day in Birmingham was marked with a protest outside the old Canadian Consulate building. Many see it shameful that the Federal Canadian and Provincial Quebec governments still fund the promotion and export of chrysotile asbestos to the Developing World.

We took the message from Birmingham to the Canadian High Commission in London the next day.

Day 11: Derby to Birmingham

A warm dry day with a great send off from Derby Market Square and an excellent meeting in Birmingham in the evening.

A hot day but an hour of (welcome) rain around Lichfield.

Day 10: Leeds - Sheffield- Derby

Day 9: Hebden Bridge to Leeds

Back in the saddle.



Up to the old Acre Mill site - a Cape factory that has been described as one of Britian's worst industrial disasters. Asbestos processing began in 1939 with the manufacture of gas masks. After the war production switched to a variety of asbestos related construction and insulating products.

Hundreds of former Cape workers locally have succumbed to asbestos related disease and cancer. Even through the factory closed in 1970 and the main buildings were demolished by 1979, the deadly legacy of Acre Mill continues to affect the health of local people.

We should never forget the legacy of Acre Mill.





Our journey continued over the Pennines then along the picturesque Leeds Liverpool canal to Armley - home of the former JW Roberts factory. The environmental and occupations scandal of this T&N subsidiary was uncovered by the Court of Appeal in the mid 1990's.



The cast from the Yorkshire Playhouse production of "Dust" greeted us in Armley.

more to follow...