William ‘Billy’ Allen Died Within Five Months Of Being Diagnosed With Cancer

The widow of a former labourer and fitter is appealing to his former colleagues for information about working conditions at two of his former employers after his sudden death from the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma.

Brenda Allen, 68, from Walker, Newcastle lost her husband of 48 years, William James Allen in August last year, less than five months after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by exposure to harmful asbestos dust decades before.

Shortly before his death, William, who was known to his friends and family as ‘Billy’, instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate where he had been exposed to the harmful asbestos dust that had caused him to fall ill.

Together, Brenda, who took over the legal claim following Billy’s death, and her legal team believe that Billy was exposed to asbestos at W.D. & H.O. Wills / Imperial Tobacco Group Limited and Busways Travel Services Limited.

Billy worked at W.D. & H.O. Wills / Imperial Tobacco Group Limited, between 1969 and 1984, as a labourer and then a driver. The firm was a large cigarette manufacturer based on the Coast Road in Newcastle and, at the time of Billy’s employment there, was the only cigarette factory in the North East and employed thousands of people.

While employed as a labourer, Billy was involved with testing drill machines which would involve having to go into the subway underneath the factory. Before his death, Billy informed his legal team that the subway was an extremely hot and confined area, leaving it impossible to avoid the asbestos dust and fibres in there and not inhale them.

The family’s legal team would be interested to speak to any of Billy’s former colleagues from W.D. & H.O. Wills / Imperial Tobacco Group Limited who might be able to provide further information about Billy’s exposure to asbestos at the cigarette factory.

Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are also keen to talk to any of Billy’s former colleagues from Busways Travel Services Ltd, now part of Stagecoach, where he was employed between 1986 and 1995, first as a shunter and then a fitter.

As a fitter, Billy believed he was exposed to asbestos when carrying out repairs or maintenance work to the vehicles, as old type brake shoes within the buses were all lined with asbestos. In order to replace or repair the brake shoe, Billy would have to remove the old lining of the shoe, including all of the asbestos dust.

While he was still alive, Billy told his legal team that the garages on the site where he worked contained extensive pipework which was lagged with asbestos. He recalled how the garages would always be dusty and when repairs were carried out to the pipework, they would remove the asbestos lagging which would create more dust.

Brenda, mother to Paul and Anthony, said: “I urge any of Billy’s former colleagues to come forward with any details of the working conditions at W.D. & H.O. Wills / Imperial Tobacco Group Limited or Busways Travel Services Limited during the time of Billy’s employment at either employer.

“Billy was an independent person and it was hard to see the illness take hold of him. It all happened so quickly that there was very little time to get answers or justice for him while he was alive.

“Billy was convinced that asbestos was present in the works and factories of the employers mentioned. He would often return home covered in dust which we now believe was asbestos dust. So if anyone who used to work with him can provide information that would be helpful to the legal team at Irwin Mitchell, it would mean a lot to me and my family.”

Billy first began to feel unwell in February last year, and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in April. As his health deteriorated he was unable to do things he used to enjoy doing, such as gardening and building motor boats.

Emma Tordoff, a Solicitor and expert industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Brenda, said: 

Expert Opinion

“Unfortunately, we often see cases like Billy’s where victims were unaware they had been exposed to asbestos until the very end of their lives.

“Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive, unforgiving, and sadly terminal cancer caused by asbestos exposure decades before symptoms develop. All too often we see a case like this where workers spent time working in environments where they were exposed to asbestos dust and were not made aware, by their employers, of the dangers of asbestos dust.

“Anyone with information about working conditions at either W.D. & H.O. Wills, part of Imperial Tobacco Group Limited, or Busways Travel Services Limited, particularly anyone who may remember working with Billy, should contact us as soon as possible.” Emma Bell - Senior Associate Solicitor

Anyone with information please contact Michael McGowan on 0191 279 0104 or email Michael.McGowan@IrwinMitchell.com.