Family Appeal For Answers After Carpentry Tutor Dies From Asbestos Disease

The wife of a carpentry tutor from Greater Manchester who died of asbestos-related cancer earlier this year has joined with legal experts to appeal for his former colleagues to come forward and help her gain justice regarding the illness.

Christopher Bebbington, who lived in Heywood and taught at Oldham College, passed away aged 63 in August less than a year after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung commonly associated with asbestos exposure.

Prior to his death, Christopher instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office to investigate his illness and how he came into contact with asbestos.

Now, with his family continuing with the case in his memory, the legal experts are appealing for more information regarding the jobs where Christopher believed he may have been exposed to the material. They are specifically keen for details regarding the working conditions he would have faced at:

• George Wimpey from 1971 to 1975
• John Laing Constructions from 1977 to 1979
• Cruden Construction from 1979 to 1981.

Lucy Andrews, the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office who is representing Christopher’s wife Jeanne, said:

Expert Opinion

“Sadly, this is yet another which highlights the devastating impact that asbestos exposure can have, with Christopher going on to develop mesothelioma many years after his contact with the material is thought to have taken place.

“His family remain desperate for answers regarding the illness and we are now keen to hear from anyone who can shed light on these employers. Any amount of detail could make a huge difference to the case.” Lucy Andrews - Associate Solicitor

Before he died, Christopher revealed how he joined George Wimpey – now known as Carillion – as an apprentice joiner. He recalled cutting asbestos cement soffit boards, as well as boarding up bin stores with asbestos panels and adding the material to roofs.

He undertook similar work at John Laing Constructions and specifically recalled a job on the Ellis Factory in Middleton which saw him box in a steel framework with asbestolux boards. Finally, at Cruden Construction he under took the same work on projects including the West Bank Housing Estate in Widnes and the Bradford Royal Mail building.

Bebbington, 52, said: “It was incredibly difficult to see how mesothelioma affected Christopher and the whole family misses him so much.

“While nothing will bring him back, we are determined to carry on with this work in his memory and finally determine just how he came to develop this awful illness. We would be hugely grateful to anyone who could shed light on these employers and ultimately help us gain justice regarding the cancer which took his life.”

Anyone with information which could assist this case is asked to contact Lucy Andrews at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office on 0113 394 6782 or Lucy.Andrews@IrwinMitchell.com.

Read about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in mesothelioma cases.