Widow Of Former Worker Exposed to Deadly Asbestos As She Washed Dusty Overalls Decades Ago

The widow of a former lagger, working at Sizewell A Power Station, is appealing for his ex-colleagues from the 1960s to help with an investigation into exposure to asbestos after she was diagnosed with a terminal cancer associated with the deadly dust.

Dorothy Ann English (nee Mason), known as Ann, was diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma almost three years ago and has already undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.

She has instructed specialist asbestos lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate if more could have been done to prevent her exposure to the harmful dust and fibres as it takes decades following exposure for the disease to develop.

Lawyers at the firm believe that Ann’s mesothelioma arises from asbestos exposure when washing her husband’s asbestos dust-covered overalls when he was working as a lagger at Sizewell A Power Station in Suffolk between 1963 and October 1964.

Her first husband was known as Robin Mason, although his full name was Anthony Robin Mason. He worked for a number of well-known lagging/insulation firms including Cape Insulation Limited which was then a major national and international importer and manufacturer of asbestos insulation materials. 

Robin worked for Cape’s Contracts Division and spent all of his time working at Sizewell A Power Station on the Suffolk coast.  He died in 1983 (after moving to Luton) leaving behind Ann and their three sons Neil, Alan and Michael. 

Robin and Ann lived in Saxmundham, about ten miles away from Sizewell. Robin worked on the lagging of pipes during the construction of the Sizewell A Nuclear Power Station which was officially opened in 1967. In his spare time he used to enjoy playing football with the St Margaret’s football team in Leiston.

Ann, 72, who now lives in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, said: “I remember Robin used to come home from work and his dark coloured boiler suit would be covered in dust which I had to shake out to remove the excess dust before washing the overalls. We never knew that the asbestos dust was so dangerous and certainly were never made aware that it could cause such ill health.

“We spent a lot of time in Suffolk and my sons and I usually visit Sizewell Village once a year to remember Robin.

“I just hope people who knew Robin, and who worked as laggers, will come forward to describe the working conditions at Sizewell and help Irwin Mitchell seek answers and justice for the disease that I am now suffering with.”

Simone Hardy, an expert asbestos lawyer at Irwin Mitchell said:

Expert Opinion

We are appealing for anyone who worked at Sizewell A Power Station during the 1960s as a lagger, and in particular anyone who might have known Robin Mason, employed by Cape, to come forward, to help us to better understand the working conditions.

“The laggers would have applied insulation to the extensive network of pipes in the power station which would have created a very dusty working environment. This evidence should help us achieve justice for Ann who we believe has developed this disease simply through washing Robin’s dust covered overalls.” Simone Hardy - Senior Associate Solicitor

Anyone who is able to provide information on the working conditions at Sizewell A Power Station in the 1960s is asked to contact Simone Hardy at Irwin Mitchell on 0114 274 4420 or email simone.hardy@irwinmitchell.com.

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in Asbestos and Mesothelioma Claims.