A mother who was told she had less than a year to live after being diagnosed with terminal asbestos-related cancer - which she believes originates from her school days - has won a settlement from Brent Council.
Sarah Bowman, 46, from Wembley, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in August 2009 and believes her condition came as a result of her time as a pupil at the now-demolished William Gladstone High School in Park Side, Dollis Hill, from 1979 to 1984.
She has now won a settlement from the council, which denies liability, although she does not wish to disclose the size of the sum.
Ms Bowman said: “My life has been turned upside down since my diagnosis – although at the moment I am in remission, I am petrified that one day the cancer will return and I will have to relive this whole ordeal once more.
"To be told that I had a terminal illness and had less than a year to live was simply too much to comprehend and my family and I have struggled to overcome this."
Ms Bowman recalls the ceilings of the classrooms and corridors of her secondary school contained asbestos.
She remembers the ceiling tiles being disturbed by pupils pushing them up and remembers workmen carrying out electrical maintenance resulting in the asbestos dust and debris falling on the floor and on the pupil’s clothes.
The school, which only opened in 1975, was later closed and was demolished in 1998 to make way for housing.
Her case was handled by the asbestos specialist law firm Irwin Mitchell, which secured the settlement which covers her pain, suffering and financial losses throughout the time she was receiving treatment for mesothelioma.
Joanne Jefferies, who represented Ms Bowman, said: “Asbestos exposure has long been regarded as something that only happens in heavy industry, but the presence of the material in so many public buildings such as schools and hospitals means that more and more people who are not working in traditional construction trades are being affected.
“Through no fault of her own, Sarah was exposed to this hazardous dust as a pupil at a school she was attended and this is a stark reminder of the dangers of exposure to asbestos and the devastating affect it can have on people’s lives.
“We have repeatedly called for a dedicated programme to identify public buildings across the country containing asbestos, and a schedule to systematically remove it on a priority basis depending on its state of disrepair in each situation.
"Given the vulnerability of children to the potential dangers of asbestos, we would suggest schools are given the highest priority in any action that may be taken.”
Councillor Michael Pavey (Labur), deputy leader of Brent Council, said: "We are delighted that following her operation, Miss Bowman's cancer has not returned and we send our very best wishes for the future.
“The claim against the council has been settled with Ms Bowman's agreement and for legal reasons we cannot comment further.”
William Gladstone High School in Park Side, Dollis Hill, was later closed and was demolished in 1998 to make way for housing.
Asbestos was discovered at William Gladstone High School in 1992 following a fire but the council told Irwin Mitchell in 2011 it did not hold any documents that would show whether asbestos would have been present during Mrs Bowman’s time at the school.
