Answers sought over mum’s death
POSSIBLE ASBESTOS LINK INVESTIGATED
A DEVASTATED daughter wants answers over her mum’s sudden death.
Susan Giles has issued an emotional plea to her mum Jean Dobson’s former workmates for information to establish how she fell ill.
Jean was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades prior.
Jean worked at Fenners of Hull making fan belts on a weaving machine between 1952 and 1954.
Before her death, Jean told her daughter that she understood fire hoses made in the same factory at the time contained asbestos.
Jean first developed symptoms of mesothelioma, including a cough, pain, breathlessness and weight loss, at the end of 2020 and early 2021.
She was diagnosed with the condition in August 2021 and died on September 9 that year,
Susan said: “Mum had undergone some tests early last year, but she wasn’t officially diagnosed until August.
By that time, she had deteriorated a lot and we lost her very soon afterwards, which completely devastated me.
“She was the best mum and we still can’t believe she’s not with us.
“While she was still with us, we began going through her work history after we were told that asbestos may be a cause, but sadly by this time she was not well enough to have long and detailed conversations.
“She did believe it was likely, however, that she her exposure had occurred during her time at Fenners, and I would really appreciate it if anyone could provide us with details on the conditions she may have faced there.
“Getting these answers is the least my mum deserves.”
After Jean’s death, Susan instructed asbestos-related disease experts at Irwin Mitchell law firm to investigate whether her mother’s illness could be linked to her work history.
Ahead of this year’s Action Mesothelioma Day on July 1, Susan has appealed for any of her mum’s former workmates to come forward with information that could aid the investigation.
They are keen to trace anyone who worked with Jean at Fenners of Hull.
Lucy Andrews, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who represented Jean and now Susan, said: “Jean’s loved ones, in particular Susan, are understandably devastated at losing her so suddenly and to such a horrible disease. It also left them with a lot of unanswered questions as to how Jean came into contact with asbestos.
“Through our work, we come across many families affected by mesothelioma, and we would be
grateful if any of Jean’s former colleagues could contact us with any information that could help with our investigation.
“Any detail, no matter how small, could prove vital in helping Susan and the rest of Jean’s family obtain the answers they deserve.”
The Fenner Group was founded in 1861 and specialised during its early years in leather belting for use in power transmission, lacing and hoses.
After the Second World War, Fenner was contracted to develop a fire-resistant belt by the National Coal Board after a coal mine tragedy. The Fenner group was acquired by Michelin Group in 2018.