Loved Ones And Lawyers Call For Ex-Colleagues To Come Forward

The family of a former welder from Cambridge who died earlier this year from asbestos-related disease, have joined with specialist lawyers to call for his former colleagues to come forward and help them gain answers regarding his illness.

Malcolm Hannah, from Abington, died aged 92 in May, around 12 months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung which is commonly associated with exposure to asbestos materials.

Prior to this death, Malcolm had instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him gain justice regarding his illness and outlined how he believed he may have been exposed during his time working at the Welding Institute in Great Abington between 1947 and 1970.

As part of their work, the lawyers have now teamed up with his family to call on anyone who worked at the institute with Malcolm to come forward with vital information regarding the presence of asbestos at the site.

Samantha Shaw, the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Cambridge office who is representing Malcolm’s loved ones, said: “This is another terrible case which highlights the devastating legacy that asbestos has had on so many lives, with Malcolm developing mesothelioma decades after the point when he believed he was exposed to asbestos.

“Following his passing, his family remain determined to honour his memory and get answers in relation to his illness and we are now keen to hear from anyone who might have information related to asbestos being used at the Welding Institute. 

“Any detail no matter how small could be integral to helping this family get the justice they deserve.”

Before he passed away, Malcolm told Irwin Mitchell how he believed asbestos was used in a number of ways at the Welding Institute. He recalled how the spiral around the flux rods used during welding could contain asbestos, while thermal blankets, protective curtains and even safety gloves may have also contained the material. 

It was believed that the roof on the welding shop itself may have also been constructed using it too.

Malcolm’s family said: “It was devastating when Malcolm passed away and several months on the whole family still miss him and want to know how he came to develop mesothelioma.

“We would be hugely grateful if anyone who worked with him or simply was employed at the site at the same time might be able to come forward and help us get justice. We are determined to honour Malcolm’s memory and gain the answers we deserve.”

Anyone with information which could help this case is asked to contact Samantha Shaw at Irwin Mitchell’s Cambridge office on 01223 791 815 or email samantha.shaw@irwinmitchell.com.