Bath man in search for former workmates after cancer diagnosis
12/10/2010
A former telecommunications engineer from Bath is searching for former colleagues after he was diagnosed with an asbestos related cancer.
Bernard John Mottram, 82, fears that he may not live to see his Diamond Wedding anniversary in September 2011 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer that is linked to asbestos exposure.
The former British Telecom engineer is now searching for former colleagues to come forward to help him in his fight for justice, believing that he was exposed to asbestos dust whilst installing new telephone lines at old office blocks, factories, schools, hospitals, as well as Army and Air Force bases, where he was regularly required to work close to asbestos lagged pipework, between 1970 and 1991.
Mr Mottram recalls: "At the time, I was not provided with any form of facial mask or protective breathing apparatus or warnings about the dangers of asbestos, during my time as a Technician for BT. I retired when I was 63 as part of a redundancy programme."
Mr Mottram first became unwell earlier this year and in February he began to suffer from breathlessness and chest pain. His GP referred him to the Royal United Hospital (RUH) for further investigations. His breathing continued to deteriorate and he was later admitted to the RUH for scans and a biopsy. He was subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Satpal Singh, an asbestos illness expert with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors in Bristol, is representing Mr Mottram. He says: "Until earlier this year, Mr Mottram had been very fit and active. The diagnosis of cancer has been a huge blow to him and his family and in particular, they are shocked that his illness is most likely to have been caused as a result of being exposed to asbestos at work.
"Sadly, Mr Mottram's case is not isolated. For more than ten years I have acted for technicians who have been exposed to asbestos during employment with British Telecom. It is always very sad to learn of such exposure, particularly at a time when the law required employers to have taken better steps to protect them.
"As the delay between exposure to asbestos dust and the onset of symptoms can be 20 years or longer, workers like Mr Mottram, are only now making the shocking discovery that their health has been affected as a result."
Mr Mottram added: "My wife, Christine and I have three children, eight grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. We had been looking forward to celebrating our Diamond Wedding anniversary next year, but this incurable disease means that we don’t know if I will be around then."
In order to help Mr Mottram's fight for justice, former British Telecom workers are asked to contact Satpal Singh at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors via email on: satpal.singh@irwinmitchell.com or on 0870 1500 100.
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