Woman Needs Help From Her Father’s Former Workmates After He Passed Away From Cancer Caused By Asbestos Exposure

The daughter of a former shipyard worker is urgently appealing to his former colleagues for information about working conditions at the shipyards of the different companies that he worked for following his death from asbestos-related lung cancer.

Allison Brayson, 45, lost her father George Henry Hallam in November 2015, when he passed away from a terminal cancer caused by exposure to harmful asbestos dust decades before, aged 81.

Allison instructed expert asbestos-related diseases lawyers at Irwin Mitchell after being informed by George while he was alive that he had been exposed to asbestos regularly when working at the shipyards around the North East.

During his working life George worked for numerous firms however Allison’s legal team are keen to talk to any of George’s colleagues from Hawthorn Leslie Shipbuilders, Swan Hunters Shipbuilders Ltd, Clarke Chapman and Reyrolles Parsons.

George worked at Hawthorn Leslie from 1951 to 1955 and then again in 1957 where he qualified as a welder. George was also employed as a welder at Swan Hunters between 1968 and 1970, Clarke Chapman from 1968 to 1971 and Reyrolles Parsons from 1979 to 1999.

Allison, who lives in Gosforth, has previously told of how her father would talk to her about how he was exposed to asbestos, while completely unaware of the dangers of the harmful substance.

Allison said: “I am desperate for answers on why more was not done to protect my dad from asbestos when he was working at the shipyards around the North East.

“I continue to be devastated by his loss dad and hope that by gaining some justice for him regards his illness, I begin to move on with my life.

“He used to be very active before his asbestos-related lung cancer diagnosis, but his illness took hold so quickly and there was very little time to get answers or justice for him while he was alive.

“I remember how dad used to talk about how the asbestos would fall like snow when it was sprayed onto parts of the ships at the various shipyards he used to work at. He also told me about how some of his colleagues would actually throw the asbestos at each other and would kick it around in jest.”

George’s health began to deteriorate in 2014, with tests following in July 2015, only five months before his death.

Debbie Schofield, a Solicitor and expert industrial disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Unfortunately, we often see cases like George’s where victims were unaware they were battling asbestos related lung cancer until the very end of their lives.

“In order for us to get the answers Allison so badly wants, we need George’s former colleagues who worked with him at any of his various employers to come forward with any details of the working conditions at the shipyards during George’s employment.

“Due to George’s role as a welder he often worked in the ships’ hulls in the boiler rooms, which are believed to have contained asbestos. Further, as part of George’s role he would be required to work inside of large pipes and tanks we were lagged in asbestos.

“Allison believes that her dad was never provided a protective mask or any other protective equipment. Anyone with information about working conditions at the shipyards in Newcastle, particularly anyone who may remember working with George, should contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information please contact us on 0370 1500 100. 

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