Her family now want answers
Lauren Beavis and Shannon Brown Reporter
08:54, 04 Jul 2025
Marlene Broad(Image: Irwin Mitchell© SWNS)
The children of a former primary school teacher fear exposure to asbestos at work may have killed her.
Marlene Broad, who worked at the same school for 40 years, died in January last year after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Marlene worked at Hareclive Primary School in Bristol between 1960 and 1999.
Before she died she told her legal team that she believed she was likely to have been exposed to asbestos when changing displays in the school halls and classrooms.
Marlene said she pinned posters on noticeboards she suspected was lined with asbestos, and she also supervised when the boards were drilled into to create shelves
Following the mum-of-two’s diagnosis, she instructed asbestos-related disease lawyers to investigate her illness.
Marlene, from Bristol, wanted to see whether it could be linked to her employment history, but she died shortly afterwards, aged 86.
Marlene was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer usually of the lining of the lung most commonly associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.(Image: Irwin Mitchell© SWNS)
Her son and daughter, Matthew, 55, and Helen, 58, are now continuing with her case and are appealing to their mum’s former workmates for information to help determine where she came into contact with asbestos.
Helen said: “Mum had such a passion for teaching and was dedicated to supporting young children.
“She made a huge difference to so many pupils’ lives and I know that she’s sorely missed.
“When she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, it came as a huge shock as it wasn’t something we’d heard of before.
“Sadly, mum deteriorated quickly and the way she was taken from us continues to upset us.”
Helen and Matthew are looking to hear from anyone who worked alongside Marlene at Hareclive Primary School in Hartcliffe in Bristol.
Tony Roberts, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Matthew and Helen, said: “Losing Marlene continues to have a profound effect on her loved ones, particularly Matthew and Helen who are struggling to come to terms with her death so soon after her mesothelioma diagnosis.
“Mesothelioma is a horrible disease and Marlene’s case is yet another reminder of the terrible legacy left behind by asbestos.
“It also highlights that not only those in heavy industry are impacted, with the widespread use of asbestos also affecting workers in various public buildings, including schools.
“While nothing will ever change what Marlene’s loved ones are going through, we’re determined to provide them with the answers they deserve.
“We would therefore urge any of Marlene’s ex-colleagues to come forward as doing so could prove vital in our investigation.
Marlene, who was a teacher for more than 40 years, wanted to see whether her diagnosis could be linked to her employment history, but she sadly died shortly afterwards, aged 86(Image: Irwin Mitchell© SWNS)
At the time, the school was run by Avon Education Authority.
The grandmother-of-four added that she recalled seeing lots of people in white body suits at the school one day in the 1970s.
She and her colleagues were informed that asbestos was being removed from the main building and they were sent to Weston-Super-Mare for the day, returning to the school the next day.
She said that there was also a caretaker who lived on the site, and he would remove ceiling tiles to change lightbulbs in classrooms.
Marlene was a teacher for more than 40 years. After retirement, she set up a nursery with Helen, which she continued doing into her 80s.
She fell ill in June 2023 with a cough, wheezing and pain. Following tests, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma in October 2023.
She died three months later, in January 2024.
Helen said: “While we know there’s nothing we can do to bring her back, the least we can do is get her the answers she deserved. It will also help us honour her memory.
“We would be incredibly grateful if anyone could get in touch and help us.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tony Roberts at Irwin Mitchell on 02380 930745 or by e-mail at tony.roberts@irwinmitchell.com