Award could open door to more claims
BY JAMES MONCUR j.moncur@dailyrecord.co.uk
THE MoD has settled a law suit with a former RAF man who claimed working with a “toxic soup” of chemicals at a Scottish airbase left him with a rare cancer.
Michael Boyd was awarded a significant sum – believed to be six figures – just hours before his case was due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last week.
The 55-year-old was exposed to lethal cancercausing solvents in his work as a squipper – the specialists who repair aircrew survival equipment – at RAF Kinloss, in the 80s.
He and his mates operated in poorly ventilated work bays with little or no protective clothing at the Moray base.
Michael said his time there was solely to blame for his incurable nonHodgkin lymphoma.
The Record highlighted the plight of Scotland’s squippers in 2016. We worked alongside former
Scots Guard, Les Mason, who was due to be a key witness in Michael’s case.
Last night, Les, from Dundee, said: “There is a chance Mike’s cancer may have returned and he has to look at the financial security of his family.
“I am in the process of contacting other veterans who will all want their day in court after this.”
Michael, a dad of four from Oxfordshire, has outlived several of his former colleagues.
He said in an earlier interview: “Most of my days at Kinloss were spent up to my elbows in chemicals, I just want someone to admit what happened.
“I’m angry because if they had taken the proper precautions, I wouldn’t be in this situation.
“It is not just about me but all the lads – we were a tight bunch and it is no coincidence that so many of us are now seriously ill.”
Four years ago, we told how 40 of the specialists were struck down by lifethreatening illnesses after they repaired safety gear in the 80s and 90s.
They worked at bases including Lossiemouth, Leuchars and Kinloss.
The chemicals used by the team included trichloroethylene, known as tryche, which as well as causing cancer, is heavily linked to Parkinson’s.
An MoD spokesman said: “The health of our serving personnel and veterans is of paramount importance and policies governing the use of hazardous substances are strictly enforced.”