Specialist Asbestos Lawyers Appeal To Former Colleagues For Information

The heartbroken widow of a former French Polisher, who worked for a very well-known and prestigious shop-fitting company, is appealing to her husband’s former colleagues to come forward with information after he died of an asbestos-related disease.

Devoted father and grandfather, Terence ‘Terry’ Cregan, died of mesothelioma; a cancer in the lining of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos dust, in December 2013 aged 70, after an 8 month battle with the deadly disease. 

Terry, who grew up in Tottenham, leaves behind his devastated wife of 46 years Ann who has instructed asbestos experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell in her fight against the company.  She is backing calls from the firm for Terry’s former colleagues at Frederick Sage & Co to get in touch as they may hold vital information about the working practices at Frederick Sage & Co.

Terry was employed by the company as a French Polisher between 1958 and 1972.  During this period he worked at various buildings within London including the Houses of Parliament, Liberty’s and Buckingham Palace, as well as within the company’s workshop in Haringey. 

Expert Opinion

“Terry remembered working alongside men at various sites who were cutting asbestos sheets. He also carried out polishing jobs on site and it is likely that asbestos materials would have been cut to size here too.

“Asbestos was commonly used within the construction industry at the time for fire-proofing and insulation purposes, and when creating shop displays. Cutting asbestos sheets created large amounts of dust and unfortunately Terry breathed in this deadly dust which eventually led to him losing his life to this awful disease.

“We would now like to hear from Terry’s former colleagues as they may have additional information about the presence of asbestos and working conditions that could help in Ann’s legal battle. She has understandably been left devastated by her loss. She met Terry when she was just 16 and the couple had hoped to enjoy their retirement together. Terry was a keen gardener and especially loved his geraniums. Now Ann is having to pay tradesmen to keep Terry’s garden going.

“Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease for which there is sadly no cure. Despite employers being well aware of the risks associated with the material since the 1950s and 60s, we are still regularly contacted by families who have lost loved ones because of it.”
Ian Bailey - Partner

Terry began suffering from breathlessness whilst tending to his much-loved garden during the spring of 2013 and in July of that year tests confirmed he was suffering from the incurable cancer.  Terry fought against the illness and underwent chemotherapy however his condition quickly worsened and he died at home on 8 December 2013.

Ann, 65, from Milton Keynes, said: “When we were told Terry’s diagnosis we were absolutely distraught and it was terrible to watch him suffering.  He hated being ill and became increasingly frail and short of breath towards the end of his life.  I became his fulltime carer but there was sadly nothing that we could do to prevent the course of his illness.

“Terry was worth his weight in gold and we should be enjoying our retirement together but instead I have been robbed of that because of something that he was exposed to so long ago Before he died Terry remembered breathing in asbestos dust on various jobs when he worked for Frederick Sage & Co Ltd and I’m hoping his former colleagues will get in touch as they may have extra information that could help in my battle for justice.  Anyone at all who worked for Frederick Sage could hold useful information. 

“Terry should still be here tending to his geraniums.  Unfortunately, they were simply too much for me to look after and so I gave away over 900 of his plants to other geranium enthusiasts in return for a donation to Mesothelioma UK.  Altogether this raised £1.653 and it brings me comfort to think that the money raised from Terry’s geraniums will go towards the fight against this disease on behalf of others.”