A LIVERPOOL asbestos group celebrating its 30th anniversary took time to pay tribute to a late Bankie who helped them when they were setting up.

The Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group (MAVS) paid tribute to Bob Dickie, who was also a prominent member of Clydebank Asbestos Group (CAG) and who sadly passed away on October 17.

MAVS held their 30th birthday in Liverpool on Friday, October 27, and took time out to give a special mention to Bob.

John Flanagan, Support Officer for the group said: "We wanted to pay tribute to the late Bob Dickie of the Glasgow group, who assisted us in our formation all those years ago together with the late Eddie Loyden who was MP for Garston in 1993 who helped in our formation.

"We also thanked Peter Kilfoyle former MP for Walton who helped us set up the All-Party Parliamentary Panel on Asbestos, which still meets today."

Bob joined CAG – a volunteer organisation set up to help provide support, advice and information for victims of asbestos and their families – in 2001 and not long after became Chairperson.

He was influential in leading major campaigns in the fight to achieve truth and justice for those who had been exposed to asbestos in the workplace.

Supporters of MAVS celebrated the three-decade milestone with the presentation of a cheque of £2,540 to Professor Judy Coulson of Liverpool University.

The money will be used to help fund Professor Coulson's Mesothelioma hen’s egg research into finding improved treatment for the condition, which is a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos.

Professor Coulson said: “I was delighted to accept the donation raised by patients with this insidious disease.

“In these days of austerity in all walks of life, this fantastic contribution to our research is greatly appreciated."