A tribute to Dr Gill Reed (October 1942 - October 2026)
Tribute by Hank Roberts
Dr Gill Reed was one of the country's leading scientific experts on the dangers of asbestos in our schools. She was the author of many research publications. Her most recent entitled What is the Real Risk from Asbestos in Schools is still up to date and available from the NEU website.
Gill was a Brent member of the NEU and before that the NUT Brent Teachers Association. She became the Health and Safety Advisor. Gill was a woman of action, not just huge academic knowledge on asbestos.
The newspaper article and photo from the Willesden & Brent Times show her, alongside other Brent officers, leading a walkout of staff at Hay Lane Special school. The Headteacher had been persuaded to allow ITN to film and air a programme showing the dangerous condition of asbestos in the school. After a vigorous campaign, the school was demolished, and a brand-new asbestos free school was built.
In 2010 Gill and I founded the Joint Unions Asbestos Committee, JUAC, a cross-union campaigning body. Gill attended parliamentary committees, often called to speak as an expert witness therefore meeting people at the very top of government. She never held back, making her view clear that all asbestos should be removed as rapidly as possible. Over the years, Gill also worked to bring maximum unity of all involved in campaigning against asbestos, believing that inter union wrangles only hindered progress.
Charles Pickles, founder of Airtight on Asbestos, on hearing the news, wrote to me:
‘It was only two weeks ago that I last saw Gill, so this was not expected. She was immersed in the technical details when we spoke and discussed her latest contribution to the Campaign. As such she was active and effective, interested and interesting till the end. Few possessed her technical knowledge, intellectual agility, commitment and persistence. She will be sorely missed.’
Gill was a wonderful, warm person, always with a smile and a laugh yet had a strength of steel within her which made her into the brilliant and effective campaigner she was.
Sending my sincere condolences on the loss of Gill. I had the pleasure of meeting her at Parliament, where she spoke about the important issue of asbestos in schools. I remember her as a genuinely lovely woman and very much enjoyed meeting her on those occasions. I am very sorry to hear of her passing and wanted to send my condolences to all those who knew and loved her.
Kindest regards
Phoebe Osborne