Appeal For Information Regarding Working Conditions He Faced In Two Roles

A retired vicar who was diagnosed with asbestos-related disease in 2015 has teamed up with lawyers to call on former colleagues from jobs which saw him work at industrial sites across Teesside to come forward and help him find answers regarding the illness.

Grandfather-of-four Christopher Puckrin, 70, who lives in Leeds but was born in Redcar, developed symptoms including breathlessness before he was informed he was suffering from pleural thickening and then a year later told he was also suffering from asbestosis.

Following the diagnosis, he instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how his illness developed and whether more should have been done to prevent his exposure to the material.

As part of their work, the legal experts are now appealing for information regarding the presence of asbestos during the time that Christopher undertook an apprenticeship for Middlesbrough-based Haigh & Ringrose in the 1960s. They are also keen to speak to anyone who recalls the use of the material while he was working at ICI Wilton between 1973 and 1980.

Fay Marshall, the legal expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office who is representing Christopher, said: 

Expert Opinion

“Christopher’s experiences highlight how asbestos exposure which seemingly took place many years ago can go on to affect individuals in later life.

“While Christopher joined the Church of England in 1980 and became a vicar we are keen to gain a better understanding of the working conditions he faced in the jobs he held prior to that time and specifically how prevalent asbestos was in those roles.

“Such information could prove absolutely vital to us as we continue to work to help him get justice in relation to the illness he has developed.” Fay Marshall - Solicitor

Christopher recalls that while his apprenticeship at Haigh & Ringrose officially started in November 1963, he originally started work there in January of the same year.

He said: “I remembered spending my first few weeks doing domestic work but for the majority of time I was based on industrial sites. These included the British Steel site in Middlesbrough, their Coke Ovens site at South Bank and. I also spent a lot of time at the British Steel Lackenby site.

“I also worked at the ICI Wilton site prior to being employed there, as Haigh & Ringrose helped with the construction of the Olefins 5 works.

“So much of my role revolved around crawling through ducts and among pipework lagged with asbestos. There was so much of the material around that I was virtually eating it at times. I also worked closely with laggers and pipefitters and was never given a mask or warned of any dangers.”

Christopher joined ICI Wilton in 1973 as an electrician and was subsequently also trained up as an instrument artificer. He again recalls frequent contact with asbestos, including having to remove lagging as part of his job.

He added: “I was devastated to receive the news that I had developed an asbestos-related illness and it has affected my life so much already.

“While nothing will change what has happened I do feel I deserve answers about what I am now facing and also to know whether more should have been done to protect me from the risks. I would be hugely grateful to anyone who may be able to help.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Fay Marshall at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office on 0113 394 6826 or email fay.marshall@irwinmitchell.com.

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in asbestos-related disease cases.