Appeal for information following death cause by mesothelioma

The widow of a former Lucas Aerospace worker, who died from the asbestos related cancer, Mesothelioma, is trying to piece together details of her husband's employment history to prove where he was exposed to lethal asbestos fibres.

John Clayton was born in Bordesley Green in Birmingham and had lived for most of his life in Small Heath. He and his wife Christine, who had been married for 37 years, had retired to St Austell in Cornwall in 1995.

Mr Clayton first became unwell in August 2007 and died just six months later at the age of 70. A post mortem revealed that he had been suffering from malignant mesothelioma and in June 2008, an inquest by the Coroner for Cornwall found that he had been exposed to asbestos. However, an open verdict was returned as there was no clear evidence to show when and where he was exposed to asbestos.

Now, his widow Christine is determined to fight for justice and has launched a search to find ex-Lucas Aerospace workers who may be able to shed light on how her husband came into contact with asbestos.

She explained: "John and I first met in the 1960s when we were both working for Lucas. John was based at the Spring Road site in Tyseley in the frazing department and also on the capstan machines, whilst I worked in shop 4 at the factory making headlights.

"He had a number of jobs over the years but spent much of his working life at Lucas Aerospace from the late 1960s until his retirement in 1991.

"John's death came as a huge shock. We had been planning to do so much during our retirement in Cornwall and all that has now been taken away from us."

Satinder Bains, a workplace illness expert with Irwin Mitchell solicitors is representing Mrs Clayton. She said: "The link between asbestos exposure and John's illness was only made after his tragic death and so Christine now faces the very difficult task of putting together the pieces of his employment history.

"We are seeking information from anyone who worked at the Lucas site on Spring Road, Tyseley, from the 1960s through to 1991 and would ask them to come forward to assist us with our enquiries."

Anyone with information should contact Satinder Bains on 0370 1500 100 or via satinder.bains@irwinmitchell.com.