Mavis Nye, a tireless campaigner around asbestos awareness, passed away in her sleep yesterday (Tuesday 21 November), her family has said.
In 2009, Mavis developed Mesothelioma and was told there was no cure and no treatment available.
Fourteen years from her original prognosis she has campaigned passionately around the dangers of awareness, and was one of the first people to galvanise all sides of the debate. From a standing start and with no formal training in the field, she has been a touchstone for victims across the globe.
Commenting, IOSH President Stuart Hughes said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of Mavis’s death. She was a tireless campaigner on issues around asbestos and related diseases. Despite suffering from mesothelioma herself, Mavis dedicated a huge amount of time to raising awareness of the dangers of asbestos and also, through her charity, to supporting those suffering the cruel effects of exposure.”
Mavis Nye was named SHP’s Most Influential Person in health & safety for 2021 for her work supporting and raising awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure and supporting those who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma.
Very sad news, Mavis was such a kind and lovely lady and so generous with her time. I had the great pleasure to interview her a number of times, after she was deservedly crowned the winner of SHP’s Most Influential Person in Health & Safety in 2021.
I always enjoyed my time speaking to her. The work and campaigning she did throughout her life will be hugely valuable for years to come. Rest In Peace, Mavis.
Very sad to read this news.
Mavis was a wonderful person to know, as a person, not just a campaigner.
I had the pleasure to be on the same platform as her on two occasions, and consider it to have been a privilage.
The anti-asbestos campaigning family, world-wide, owes Mavis a lot.
Thank you Mavis for all that you have done for the campaign.
Rest peacefully Mavis, we will miss you. Condolences to Ray and family
.
Mavis was a mighty force. “She was relentless in her commitment to raising awareness of the hidden dangers of exposure to Asbestos.
Being driven by her own personal experience she strove to protect other and
their loved ones from having to go through the long-term suffering asbestos
related diseases result in.
It was a great pleasure to have known her.
very sad news, she was a tireless campaigner for such a worthy cause. rest in peace Mavis
For fellow mesothelioma sufferers, Mavis was a big inspiration, which SHP well recognises. She went on all the medical tried her physical status allowed her to. You cannot call her a survivor for an illness with still no cure. She was a great campaigner who put Meso on the Map. A true Warrior.
The best way to honour Mavis is to finish the job she started. She has shown that even with limited experience support great achievements can be made from just picking up the sword and shield and getting stuck in she has shown there is nothing to be afraid of when you need to do something.
We have not lost her, her legacy is her way of staying here to continue her quest all we need to ask is how would Mavis do it that should be enough for anyone doing what she does.
We are fortunate to know her.
I was so shocked to read that Mavis had sadly passed away. While I never met Mavis in Person, but we did occasionally chat on twitter, over the years and share things around Asbestos and its terrible impact on people two decades after the UK finally banned its use.
Her memory will live on in the hard work of her husband Ray and the Mavis Nye Foundation.
My thoughts are obviously with Ray and her family.
RIP @Grandmamavis
A amazing meso-warrior, who is sadly missed. Rest in Peace, Mavis.
Very sad to hear the news, let’s hope and pray that we carry on with her legacy. Well done Mavis