Widow makes Exeter asbestos apppeal

A widow who lost her husband to an agressive asbestos-related cancer has asked for former workers at the Cowley Bridge Road Depot to come forward and share their memories. 

Diane Allen, aged 59, widow of the late Bernard Allen (formerly Stone) is seeking help from former workers at Kneels Laundry Services, at Cowley Bridge Road Depot to come forward.

Bernard died at the age of 72 from an asbestos related disease; mesothelioma in February 2014. Bernard had been fighting this aggressive cancer since October 2012. This type of cancer is linked with past exposure to asbestos dust.

Bernard was married to Diane and had been together for 30 years. His family are devastated and still trying to come to terms with his death. Bernard had two grown up sons from a previous marriage and three grandchildren. Before he was diagnosed with his fatal condition he enjoyed a very active retirement with hobbies of cycling and karate.

Bernard remembered being exposed to asbestos whilst working for Kneels Laundry Services in Exeter where he had to drive the wagons to collect dusty overalls from Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth and other factories/ foundries. The overalls would have been contaminated with asbestos dust as this was in the mid 1970s.

Bernard remembered collecting piles of dusty overalls, shaking these out and putting them in the back of his wagon to take back to the Cowley Bridge Road Depot in Exeter.  Once back at the depot, he put them in basket trolleys and put them in the lift to take them up to the sorting area. 

The overalls were laundered back at the Depot and Bernard went inside the large laundry room back at the Depot where there were commercial sized washing machines and dryers. There was a lot of asbestos lagged pipework in this old building. Bernard was exposed to asbestos dust from the work overalls and asbestos inside the old building of the Kneels Depot. The building was pulled down in the early 1980’s.

Bernard’s family have instructed local Solicitor, Helen Grady of Novum Law, Plymouth to investigate this case and have been helping piece together details of his past exposure. Helen Grady said

“This is a particularly sad case as it would appear that Bernard was exposed to asbestos back in the 1970’s and this was at a time when the dangers of asbestos dust were well known. Although compensation awards are very helpful for the families left behind, they do not change the fact that most people who contract mesothelioma will be aware that their condition is terminal.

"Only research investment will change that, together with very strict adherence to health and safety rules relating to asbestos and its management. It is the case that 50,000 people are likely to die of the disease in the UK in the next 30 years and research investment plus strict adherence to health and safety rules is something we desperately need to prioritise”.

Diane is appealing for people to come forward who may remember the old building at the Cowley Bridge Road Depot. Former workers may also remember collecting dusty overalls and bring them back to the depot.

Please contact Helen Grady of Novum Law, Plymouth on: 0800 884 0555 www.novumlaw.com

This article is posted at the request of Novum law.