I want justice for Billy, says widow
WIFE’S PLEA FOR HELP IN FIGHT FOR ASBESTOS CASE
A GRIEVING widow is helping her husband fight justice from the grave after he died from an asbestosrelated cancer.
Brenda Allen, 68, lost her husband of 48 years, William James Allen, in August last year – less than five months after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Shortly before his death, William, known to his friends and family as Billy, instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate where he had been exposed to the harmful dust that had caused him to fall ill.
Brenda, from Walker, Newcastle, took over the legal claim following Billy’s death and her legal team believe that Billy was exposed to asbestos at W.D. & H.O. Wills / Imperial Tobacco Group Limited and Busways Travel Services Limited.
Billy, who died at the age of 67, worked at the cigarette factory,
based on the Coast Road, between 1969 and 1984 as a labourer and then a driver.
During that time, it was the only cigarette factory in the North East and employed thousands of people.
While a labourer, Billy was involved with testing drill machines which would involve having to go into the subway underneath the factory.
Before his death, Billy informed his legal team that the subway was an extremely hot and confined area, leaving it impossible not to inhale the asbestos dust and fibres in there.
The family’s legal team would be interested to speak to any of Billy’s former colleagues from W.D. & H.O. Wills / Imperial Tobacco Group Limited.
Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are also keen to talk to any of Billy’s former colleagues from Busways Travel Services Ltd, now part of Stagecoach, where he was employed between 1986 and 1995, first as a shunter and then a fitter.
As a fitter, Billy believed he was exposed to asbestos when carrying out repairs or maintenance work to the vehicles, as old type brake shoes within the buses were all lined with asbestos.
Brenda, mother to Paul and Anthony, said: “Billy was an independent person and it was hard to see the illness take hold of him.
“It all happened so quickly that there was very little time to get answers or justice for him while he was alive.
“Billy was convinced that asbestos was present in the works and factories of the employers mentioned.
“He would often return home covered in dust which we now believe was asbestos dust.”
Billy first began to feel unwell in February last year, and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in April.
As his health deteriorated he was unable to do things he used to enjoy doing, such as gardening and building motor boats. ■■Anyone with information about working conditions should contact Michael McGowan on 0191 279 0104 or email Michael.McGowan@ IrwinMitchell.com.