Expert Asbestos-Related Disease Lawyers Call For Witnesses To Come Forward

The devastated children of a former sergeant major are appealing for help from his colleagues from before his army days to come forward with any information they may have about his exposure to asbestos dust decades ago, which caused him to develop mesothelioma, a terminal cancer affecting the lining of the lungs.

Ronald Bell, from Wallsend, Newcastle died at the age of 84 after a short battle with the disease.

Prior to his death he had instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how and where he was exposed to the harmful dust and fibres that caused his disease.

Now, his son Stuart, 55, and daughter Pia 49, with the backing of their legal team, are appealing for any of his former colleagues to come forward and help with the investigation.

Ronald believed that he may have come into contact with asbestos dust and fibres before he joined the army. He told his legal team that he was employed by CA Parsons, between 1946 and 1949, where he was employed as a running boy before starting an apprenticeship as a fitter/blader with the company.

He recalled that a number of other tradesmen worked in the open-plan factory, which was based on Davy Bank, and that asbestos was commonly used in the time he worked there. Ronald also recalled the pipework in the factory being lagged with asbestos.

He said maintenance and repairs of the pipework was conducted regularly and that workmen would often remove the asbestos lagging in order to carry out their work.

Emma Crowther, an expert asbestos-related disease lawyer, representing Stuart and Pia, said:

Expert Opinion

“Exposure to asbestos can be extremely dangerous and we regularly see cases like this, where individuals develop terminal conditions as a result of asbestos exposure decades ago.

“Sadly, this often means those suffering with the disease, or their family members, are unable to recall exactly where they were exposed to asbestos, or what measures, if any, were in place to protect them or their loved ones from the harmful dust and fibres.

“We have been instructed to investigate how Ronald came into contact with asbestos and we are now appealing to anyone who may have worked alongside him at CA Parsons in the late 1940s to come forward with any information, no matter how small, they may have on the working conditions Ronald and his colleagues were exposed to.

“Stuart and Pia are understandably heartbroken following the death of their father and they desperately want answers as to how Ronald was exposed to asbestos and if more could and should have been done to protect him.” Emma Crowther - Senior Associate Solicitor

Ronald was diagnosed with mesothelioma just two months before he passed away and his ill health meant he was forced to give up some of his independence and rely on his family members for help and support with a number of everyday tasks.

Stuart and Pia said: “Our dad was always very independent, fit and healthy so it came as a complete shock when he was given his diagnosis. The illness had a huge impact on him and he relied heavily on the family for help in his final months.

“It was absolutely terrible to see him suffering so much and watch him deteriorate so we are determined to get answers and justice in his name.

“Hopefully, those who remember him from his apprenticeship at CA Parsons will come forward and help our legal team’s investigations into the conditions dad was exposed to at the company in the late 1940s.”

Anyone with information on the presence of asbestos at CA Parsons should contact Emma Crowther on 0191 279 0094 or email Emma.Crowther@IrwinMitchell.com.

If you or a loved one has been affected by an asbestos related illness, our solicitors can help you to claim compensation. See our Asbestos Claims page for more information.