Expert Industrial Disease Lawyers Helping Family Find Answers

The devastated widow of a former Bristol Environmental Health Inspector is appealing to her late husband’s former colleagues at the Port of Bristol and Bristol Council to come forward with information that may help her understand how her husband was exposed to the asbestos that caused his death from mesothelioma.

Francis Ball, died at the age of 66 in April 2014, following a short battle with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lung lining caused by exposure to asbestos decades ago.

Now, his wife Peggy, 64, has instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s Bristol office to investigate how and where Francis came into contact with the asbestos dust and fibres that caused him to develop the disease.

Peggy, from Highbridge, Somerset believes Francis, known to his work colleagues as Frank, may have been exposed to asbestos during his apprenticeship at the Port of Bristol and later in his career as an Environmental Health Inspector with a number of local councils, including Bristol City Council, the Borough of Weston-super-Mare, the District of Woodspring and Sedgemoor District Council.

Frank worked as an Apprentice Plumber for the Port of Bristol from August 1964 until August 1969. He then worked as an inspector with the councils from 1969 until 2007 and Peggy believes he may have come into contact with asbestos throughout his working life.

Peggy is now appealing for any of Frank’s former colleagues at the Port of Bristol and local authorities to come forward with information they have on how he was exposed to the dust and fibres and what, if anything, was done to protect workers from the risks associated with the deadly material.

Leanne Leighton, an expert asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said:

“Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive and sadly incurable form of cancer that kills over 2,500 people in the UK every year. Many people who worked in the construction trades, plumbers, electricians and plasterers are now paying the price for their employers not doing enough to protect them from asbestos decades ago.

"Peggy has been left distraught following Frank’s death and she wants to understand how and where her husband came into contact with the material that caused him to develop mesothelioma. We would urge any of his former colleagues at the Port of Bristol and local councils in the Bristol area to come forward and provide us with the information we need to get Peggy the answers she deserves.”

Peggy, a grandmother-of-two who was married to Francis for 43 years, said: “It was absolutely heart-breaking to see Frank going through so much pain and suffering as he battled mesothelioma. He was not well enough during his illness to investigate the cause of his illness and I’m now relying on his former workmates to come forward and help us find the answers we need.

“Hopefully, people who worked with Frank as an apprentice and later as an inspector around Bristol will remember him and come forward with information, no matter how small, about where he was exposed to asbestos and if he was ever warned about the danger it posed to his health.”

Anyone who worked with Francis during his time as a Health Inspector with information about how he may have come into contact with asbestos should contact Leanne Leighton on 0117 926 1530 or email Leanne.Leighton@IrwinMitchell.com.

Our expert mesothelioma solicitors will provide you with free initial advice on your compensation claim if you or a loved on has been diagnosed with mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure. See our Asbestos-Related Disease Claims Guide for more information.