THE GRIEVING family of a former Worcester heating engineer have launched an appeal to establish how he contracted the asbestos cancer which claimed his life.
Father-of-three Reginald William Willis died just a few months after he developed symptoms including shortness of breath and with fluid on his lungs.
It was only after his death following a post-mortem examination his family knew he had mesothelioma – a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos materials.
Following his death, the 89-year-old’s family, including widow Florence, 91, instructed lawyers to investigate the illness which took his life.
They are keen to hear from anyone who may have information on the working conditions Reginald would have faced during his time as a maintenance engineer at the former Lea Castle Hospital during the 1950s and a similar role at James Ward (Worcester) Ltd from the late 1950s up to 1963.
Reginald and Florence were married for 66 years and had three sons Leslie, 65, Graham, 64 and 62-year-old Brian.
The family moved from Worcester to Kidderminster after the birth of Leslie in 1953, when Reginald started as a maintenance engineer at Lea Castle Hospital.
The role saw him work on boilers and associated pipework, replacing old systems and carrying out repairs.
His family recall him talking about working with asbestos during this time, including how he would have to remove and reapply lagging to the systems he worked on.
After Brian was born in 1957, they moved back to Worcester and Reginald took a job at James Ward (Worcester) Ltd, a plumbing and heating firm.
It is understood his work was similar to what he did at the hospital, while he also told his family about working with products including asbestos rope and flues during his career.
After leaving James Ward, Reginald worked in a variety of roles for different companies including reading gas meters and as showroom manager and an office clerk. Reginald started feeling unwell in late 2016. He died in July 2018.
Reginald’s son Leslie said: “The entire family were devastated to lose Dad and we all still miss him so much.
“He was a fantastic husband and father who was never happier than when spending time with his family. He was also a keen ballroom dancer in his youth, a hobby that he was able to return to after his retirement.
“It was a huge shock to be told that he died of mesothelioma. Before then we had never heard of it, let alone know what it was but our family are now only too aware of what mesothelioma is and how the effect it has on those diagnosed with it.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Martha Barnes at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office on 0121 214 5210 or e-mail [email protected]
