Lawyers And Loved Ones Call For Former Workmates In Birmingham And Solihull To Come Forward

The wife of a former spray painter and carpenter is appealing for help to establish how her husband contracted the asbestos-related cancer which claimed his life.

Trevor Wickson, from Atherstone, Warwickshire, died in April 2022, three months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Following the 65-year-old’s death, his wife, Carol Wickson, 58, instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he developed the illness.

Carol has now joined her legal team in appealing for anyone who worked with Trevor to come forward and provide information on how he may have been exposed to asbestos during his working life.

They are particularly keen to hear from anyone who worked alongside Trevor at Matthews & Wilson Ltd in Birmingham, between 1971 and 1974 and from those who worked with Trevor at Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull, between 1977 and 2004.

Expert Opinion

“Trevor’s death is yet another case which puts a spotlight on the devastating impact of asbestos exposure, with the true consequences only becoming clear years after contact has taken place. What makes Trevor’s death even harder for the family to come to terms with is the relatively young age he died for this type of disease.

“Trevor believed that he was probably exposed to asbestos during his work for Jaguar Land Rover and at Matthews & Wilson Ltd, but we require more information to determine the full details of how his exposure occurred.

“Nothing can make up for the pain they’re going through, but Carol and her family would be hugely grateful to anyone who may be able to help. Details of the conditions Trevor faced will go some way towards answering their questions and ensuring that his family can gain some form of closure following Trevor’s death.” Hayley Hill - Senior Associate Solicitor

Trevor started work at Matthews & Wilson in 1971 and for the next three years, worked for the firm as a carpenter on various building sites and schools throughout the West Midlands. In 1977, Trevor began working for Jaguar Land Rover at the firm’s Solihull factory.

For the next 27 years, worked on cars inside spray booths. Prior to his death, Trevor told his family both roles involved working and moving through dusty environments, including areas where he believed he  most probably encountered asbestos. He left Jaguar Land Rover in 2004.

Trevor and Carol had been together for over 34 years and the couple had only recently decided to get married on 9 December 2022. The family includes Carol’s daughter (Trevor’s step-daughter) Gemma and son-in-law, Luke. Trevor absolutely doted on their three grandchildren; Isobel, 13; Lucas, 6 and four year old Lola.

Trevor loved to travel and went on holiday to Devon twice a year in addition to breaks away on the Greek islands of Corfu and Rhodes. He would also regularly visit family on the Isle of Wight.

Some of these holidays would be just Trevor and Carol, but there were also big group holidays where the whole family would go away together.

In his spare time, Trevor enjoyed going out for meals and spending time in the garage looking after his car.

Trevor had always been in good health until he began to develop symptoms including increasing breathlessness. He was admitted to hospital in December 2021.  Following a biopsy, Trevor was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2022. He died on 17 April, 2022, with Carol by his side.

Carol said: “Trevor’s diagnosis came as a huge shock to both of us. He began feeling breathless and started struggling with some tasks at home, but we never dreamed it could be something like cancer, or that his health would decline so quickly.

“We’d married and had so many plans for our future. However, those are now in ruins and there’s not a day goes by that I don’t think of Trevor, the life we had and the future we’ve had taken from us.

“You try to stay positive but it’s so hard to look to the future when such a big part of that has been taken away from the family.

“It’s hard not to feel a lot of regret and anger about how things worked out. We can’t turn the clock back, but Trevor wanted answers on how this happened to him and I owe it to his memory to deliver his last wishes.

“If any of Trevor’s old workmates could come forward with their recollections, it would be a huge help. The truth would mean a lot to me and the family and allow Trevor to rest in peace.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hayley Hill at Irwin Mitchell on 0121 2145273 or email Hayley.Hill@IrwinMitchell.com

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