In late 2024, Mrs Janet Catterall, 64, formerly Janet Kay before her marriage in 1984, visited her GP complaining of a persistent cough. When her symptoms failed to improve, she was referred for a chest X-ray, which revealed fluid on her left lung.  

Following further investigations — including seven painful biopsies — she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by historic exposure to asbestos. 

A devoted grandmother who enjoyed travelling and spent much of her time caring for her grandchild, Mrs Catterall’s diagnosis came as a devastating and unexpected shock. While she continues to work as a GP Receptionist, her health continues to deteriorate. 

Following her diagnosis, she went on to instruct industrial disease specialists at Thompsons Solicitors to investigate her working conditions in the hope of understanding when and where she was exposed to asbestos, and whether more could have been done to protect her. 

After leaving school, Mrs Catterall began working in 1977, joining Pendhill Engineering Limited as an Office Junior.  

Based on Sett End Road on the Shadsworth Industrial Estate in Blackburn, the company manufactured and refurbished large industrial machinery for the carpet industry, including tufting machines, dryers, and foam backing equipment.  

When Pendhill closed in 1979, she continued her work uninterrupted with its parent company, Edgar Pickering Ltd. She worked for Staplina Ltd and Pickering Staplina in Accrington until 1986, taking on administrative and reception duties. 

During her time with the company, her duties involved going onto the factory floor to collect clocking-in cards and job sheets, resolving paperwork issues, and using staff facilities in dusty workshop areas. In later years, her office was located directly on the factory floor, where she worked near ongoing engineering and refurbishment work. 

Throughout her life, Mrs Catterall held several roles, including positions in retail, education, and local government. However, she is now appealing for witnesses who worked at Pendhill Engineering, Edgar Pickering Ltd, Staplina Ltd or Pickering Staplina between 1977 and 1986, who can provide further details about the working conditions in the factories at the time. 

Commenting on her diagnosis, Mrs Catterall said: “This diagnosis was a real shock, and it’s been hard to come to terms with — especially now that I can’t travel like I used to or look after my grandchild in the same way. I am still able to work, but my health is deteriorating, and I am under ongoing treatment, and I worry about what that means for the future.  

“I’ve always worked in office-based, administrative roles — you think that means you’re safe.”  

Her legal case is being led by Emma Draper of Thompsons Solicitors’ industrial disease team, who said: “This is understandably a very distressing time for Mrs Catterall who is understandably desperate to understand the circumstances of her asbestos exposure better. 

“We would welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone who worked alongside her throughout her career, but especially during her time at Pendhill, Edgar Pickering, Staplina or Pickering Staplina between 1977 and 1986, and who may know the working conditions and the refurbishment and manufacture of machinery during that time.” 

Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact Emma Draper at Thompsons Solicitors on 0151 224 1655, or via email at emma.draper@thompsons.law.