The Former Electrician’s Widow Is Now Appealing To His Former Colleagues To Come Forward With Information On Asbestos Exposure

The widow of a man who died of undiagnosed mesothelioma is appealing to his former colleagues to come forward with information regarding possible asbestos exposure after instructing lawyers to investigate how he came into contact with the fatal material.

Alan Roberts, from Bristol, died on 19th January, 2015, at North Devon Hospice aged 66. Alan had been diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2009 and as his situation deteriorated his symptoms were initially believed to be connected to his glioblastoma diagnosis.

Two days before his death, Alan was moved to North Devon Hospice. Alan had been suffering with severe breathlessness since November 2014, and during a discussion with a doctor at the hospice, it was noted that his symptoms may be linked to mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos often decades before symptoms begin to appear.

Following Alan’s death, a post-mortem report listed malignant mesothelioma as a cause of death.

Subsequently Alan’s widow Julia, 72, instructed specialist industrial disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how Alan, came into contact with asbestos and whether more could have been done by his employers to protect him from it.

Due to Alan’s mesothelioma going undiagnosed until the very end of his life, it is unknown where exactly he was exposed to the fatal asbestos dust. To try and establish this fact, Julia’s legal team are keen to speak to any of Alan’s former colleagues at the Associated Electrical Industries and Central Electricity Generating Board, the Merchant Navy and Veratec Ltd, later known as Brannoc Fibres.

Alan worked for the Associated Electrical Industries, between 1964 and 1967, then Central Electricity Generating Board in 1967 and 1968. During this period, Alan spent time working at Portishead Power Station, Somerset, and Yelland Power Station, Devon. 

Julia’s legal team would like to speak to any people who remember Alan from this period or worked for either company as it is likely that during his time in these power stations, Alan would have been exposed to asbestos at some point. 

Between 1976 and 1979, Alan was in the Merchant Navy where he worked as a maintenance electrician. Due to the nature of the work that Alan carried out in this role, it is possible that he would have come into contact with asbestos.

In 1988, Julia and Alan moved from their home in Bristol to Braunton, Devon, where Alan got a job at Veratec Ltd, (Brannoc Fibres), employed as a maintenance electrician. The firm manufactured wool products, and again it is possible that Alan was exposed to asbestos while working for the firm. 

Julia, a retired care assistant who was married to Alan for 30 years said: “We are a very close family and Alan’s death has been devastating for all of us. 

“Alan was such a fit and active man that it made seeing his health deteriorate and worsen even harder to come to terms with. He used to be a very keen swimmer and would love going for long walks, especially along the coast.

“Sadly, due to Alan’s mesothelioma going undiagnosed until after his death, we were unable to secure him justice while he was alive. We urge any of his former colleagues to get in touch so it may be possible for us to get justice for him now.”

Isabelle Selley, a senior associate solicitor and specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Alan, said: 

Anyone with information which may be able to help this case is urged to contact Isabelle Selley on 0370 1500 100 or email Isabelle.Selley@IrwinMitchell.com.