Family Makes Appeal In Battle For Justice

The family of a Kidderminster factory worker, who died from an asbestos related cancer, is hoping former workmates will come forward with key information to help continue the battle for justice which he embarked upon prior to his death.

75 year old David Taylor was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest lining, in March this year and sadly died just four months later on 29th July.

It is believed that Mr Taylor may have been exposed to asbestos dust whilst working for Fry’s Metals Ltd at their Worcester Road factory in Kidderminster, between 1966 and 1994. Mr Taylor worked in the factory’s stores but as part of his duties also worked in the foundry where asbestos was present both on the furnaces and within lagging around the pipe work.

Mr Taylor was made redundant from the company in 1994, when the firm moved its operations from the Kidderminster site to Rochdale.

Mr Taylor began legal action shortly after his diagnosis was confirmed and now his widow, Christine, has vowed to continue his fight. Mrs Taylor explained: “David and I had been married for 51 years. He first started to feel unwell in January this year and the diagnosis that he had an aggressive cancer came as a terrible shock to us all.

“David worked hard all his life and he never expected that going to work and earning a living, would unknowingly put him in contact with something which would ultimately cause him to lose his life.

“We have two daughters, a son, eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, one of whom was born just 4 days after my husband’s death. We are an extremely close family and his death has left a huge hole in all our lives.”

Hayley Hill, a workplace illness expert with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors’ Birmingham office is representing Mr Taylor’s family. She said: “Back in the 1960s employers were well aware of the risks of asbestos exposure and should have protected their workers accordingly. As the delay between exposure to asbestos fibres and the onset of symptoms can be 20 years or longer, workers like Mr Taylor, are only now making the shocking discovery that their health has been affected as a result.

“Although no amount of money can ever compensate for the loss of a loved one, it is important to continue the fight for justice begun by Mr Taylor to find out how he came to be exposed to asbestos fibres.

“It would be helpful to hear from any former Fry’s Metal workers who have information about working practices at the factory between 1966 and 1994.”

Anyone able to assist should contact Hayley Hill at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors on 0121 214 5407 or email hayley.hill@irwinmitchell.com