Family of Mill Worker Killed by Asbestos Exposure Search for Ex-Colleagues
04/03/2010
The family of a former Staffordshire mill worker who died following asbestos exposure has made a plea for her former work colleagues to come forward and help them in their fight for justice.
Margaret Windsor, 73, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, died on 13 April 2009 from mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. An inquest, held on 16th November 2009, recorded a verdict of industrial disease.
Since Margaret’s death, her devastated husband, Roy, and daughter, Janet have been pursuing justice, approaching leading asbestos solicitors Irwin Mitchell to take legal action and secure mesothelioma compensation.
The family are now appealing for anybody who may have worked with Mrs Windsor at the Enderley Mills in Newcastle-under-Lyme between 1951 and 1979. The mill has since ceased trading.
During her time at Enderley, Mrs Windsor worked as a button holer and Mr Windsor recalls she spent most of her time in the jeans room with three colleagues. During his time working at the mill, Roy recalls that asbestos was present in the pipes, the roof and the presses that were used on the clothes. Mrs Windsor was in constant contact with these presses.
He said: “It was a really dusty place to work in and you could even see fibres in the air. Margaret’s niece worked there too. She died of breast cancer, but the doctors found asbestos related disease in her too.”
Mr Windsor added: “Margaret just got ill so quickly, but in that time she suffered a great deal. She shouldn’t have had to suffer like this, just because she was unlucky enough to work in a deadly environment.”
Iain Shoolbred, from the Birmingham office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell, is representing the family in their mesothelioma compensation claim.
He explained: “Roy and Janet are still finding it very difficult to cope with the loss of Margaret. She spent many months undergoing medical tests to try to get to the bottom of what was wrong. It was less than 3 months before she passed away that she was finally given the diagnosis of mesothelioma.
“As yet there is no cure for mesothelioma. This fatal illness can often take more than 20 years to develop from initial exposure to asbestos fibres, to the onset of symptoms. Every year this dreadful disease kills thousands of innocent victims who were exposed simply through the air that they breathed whilst at work. Even as far back as the 1930s, employers were aware of the risks of asbestos yet in many cases little was done to protect workers.
“In order to obtain justice for Mr Windsor and his family, it is vital to obtain further information about working practices undertaken at Enderley Mills in the 1960s and 1970s. The mill was a very large employer locally and we hope that former workers from the Newcastle under Lyme and Stoke areas may be able to help us with their recollections.”
Anyone who worked with Margaret Windsor and/or worked at Enderley Mills during the 1960s and 70s should contact Iain Shoolbred at Irwin Mitchell solicitors via iain.shoolbred@irwinmitchell.com or on 0870 1500 100.
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