It is important that we are able to speak with former colleagues of Edward, or anyone else who worked at either Wilsons Brewery or Beecham Foods Limited, to shed some light on the working conditions at the time. Hopefully this will help John and his family come to terms with the reason for their loss.

Alison Barnard asbestos disease solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors

A Lancashire man has turned to Thompsons Solicitors to appeal for former colleagues following the death of his father, who developed the asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma.

Edward Gardner lived in Bury and worked as a painter and decorator at Wilsons Brewery in Manchester, which was owned by Watney Mann Limited, from approximately 1955 to 1976. He later worked at Beecham Foods Limited’s Little Hulton factory, roughly between 1976 and 1993.

He died in 2016, aged 85, as a result of the fatal disease.

His son, John, is now urging anyone who worked with Edward at Wilsons Brewery and Beecham Foods Limited to come forward if they have information about the workplace or working conditions that could support the family in making an asbestos disease compensation claim.

John said: “My dad’s diagnosis was a horrible shock for our family. I cannot describe the pain we went through when we discovered that his illness was caused by asbestos dust. It’s just not something you would ever expect to happen to a loved one and his death has left our family seeking answers as to why this happened in the first place.

“He spent most of his career at those two firms, which I hope will increase our chances of speaking with someone who can give us more information and greater clarity about the conditions he worked in. We would be incredibly grateful to anyone who is able to help us with this.”

Alison Barnard, of Thompsons Solicitors, said: “It is important that we are able to speak with former colleagues of Edward, or anyone else who worked at either Wilsons Brewery or Beecham Foods Limited, to shed some light on the working conditions at the time. Hopefully this will help John and his family come to terms with the reason for their loss.”

An image of Edward Gardner, Thompsons Solicitors’ mesothelioma client, from 1957.
An image of Edward Gardner, Thompsons Solicitors’ mesothelioma client, from 1957.

Anyone with information about the working conditions at Wilsons Brewery or Beecham Foods Limited’s Little Hulton factory, should contact Alison Barnard at Thompsons Solicitors’ Manchester office, on 0161 819 3512.