Family Join With Asbestos Lawyers To Appeal For Information

The widow of a former painter and decorator from Chingford who died from an asbestos-related disease is appealing for his former colleagues to come forward to help her gain answers regarding how he was exposed to the deadly material.

Brian Chiswell, who was originally from Chingford but lived in Walton on the Naze in Essex at the time of his death, was 72 when he passed away in May 2013 less than a year after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung caused by exposure to asbestos decades ago.

His widow Christine, who was married to him for 47 years, has now instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to support her in a legal battle regarding his death and is asking for anyone who worked with him to come forward with information to assist with their enquiries.

She believes Brian may have been exposed to asbestos while employed as an apprentice painter and decorator by J & J Dean in Leyton in the 1960s, when he was present as colleagues cut up strips of asbestos sheeting for fascia boards and weather boards.

It is also thought he may have come into contact with the material during subsequent work for the London Borough of Hackney in the 1980s and 1990s, when he prepared and painted asbestolux partition walls and asbestos panelling in hot water cylinder cabinets.

Helen England, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who represents Mrs Chiswell, said: “Brian’s story is another terrible example of the tragic consequences that asbestos exposure can have on those who have come into contact with it.

“We have seen numerous cases in which people who have worked in sectors such as construction or refurbishment have gone on to develop mesothelioma, often decades after exposure and as a result of employers not taking steps to adequately protect them from potential risks.

“We would urge anyone who worked with Brian to please get in touch us and provide us with details regarding the types of work he was involved in. Any information could prove absolutely in ensuring his family get the financial support they deserve following his death.”

Christine Chiswell said: “Brian was a huge loved husband, father and granddad and two years on from his death we all still miss his presence so much.

“It was incredibly difficult to come to terms with his mesothelioma diagnosis and both radiotherapy and chemotherapy took a huge toll on him. He also needed fluid draining from his lungs and around month before his death he started to deteriorate quickly.

“It was horrible to witness and how the family just want to know how he came to suffer this awful illness.”

Anyone with information about working conditions at any of the firm that Brian was working for should contact Helen England at Irwin Mitchell on 0207 421 3856 or e-mail helen.england@irwinmitchell.com.