Expert Lawyers Investigating Exposure To Asbestos At Companies In Ipswich

The family of a joiner is appealing to colleagues who worked alongside him at a number of companies in Ipswich as they seek answers about the asbestos exposure that caused him to develop the terminal cancer mesothelioma, which is caused by inhaling asbestos dust and fibres.

Derek Hudson, from Ipswich, died at the age of 81 in February 2016 following a short battle with the disease.

Now, his widow Sheila, 79, has instructed expert lawyers at Cambridge-based law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate Derek’s exposure to asbestos.

Sheila believes Derek may have been exposed to asbestos while working for Sadler & Sons Ltd on Richmond Road in Ipswich, where he worked from 1961 to 1968, and E.R & F Turner, which later became Bull Motors, where Derek was employed from 1968 to 1979.

Rosemary Giles, a Partner and expert asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said:

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive form of cancer that can cause a great deal of pain and suffering for victims like Derek.

“Sadly, due to the length of time it can take for symptoms to develop and the disease to be diagnosed we often see cases where individuals are unable to recall exactly when they were exposed to asbestos.

“Unfortunately, due to the severity of the disease Derek was unable to provide a great deal of information about his working life to his family and they are now appealing to those who worked alongside him for information that will help them understand the circumstances around Derek’s exposure to the deadly substance.

“We have started our own investigation into his exposure and would like to hear from anyone who worked with Derek at Sadler & Sons Ltd or E.R & F Turner, which later became Bull Motors, in the hope of providing Sheila and her children with the answers they deserve.” Rosemary Giles - Partner

Derek, a father-of-three spent much of his working life as a joiner and during his time at Sadler & Sons Ltd he worked on a number of local building projects.

During his time at Bull Motors at the company’s factory on Foxhall Road, Ipswich, he was employed as a maintenance carpenter working all over the factory.

Sheila, who was married to Derek for 59 years, said: “We have been left devastated by Derek’s death and we want to know how and where he came into contact with the asbestos that caused him to develop the terrible disease that took his life.

“It was heartbreaking to see him suffering so much and knowing there was very little we could do about it. It was awful to find out that his mesothelioma may have been caused by exposure to asbestos at work and we are determined to fight for justice for Derek.

“We hope that his former colleagues will come forward to help us and our legal team to get answers about what happened.”

Our expert asbestos solicitors will provide you with free initial advice on your compensation claim if you or a loved one has suffered due to contracting mesothelioma. See our Mesothelioma Claims page for more information.