Husband’s plea to Castleford firm ex-employees after wife’s asbestos-related death
June Preston
A HEARTBROKEN husband is urging former employees of a Castleford tailors to come forward after his wife died of asbestos-related cancer.
Tailoress June Preston, who died from mesothelioma in March, aged 67, believed she came into contact with the deadly dust while working at Service Tailoring Co – better known as Town Tailors.
Her widower, Robert, 72, is now urging her former colleagues, or anyone who worked at the company in the 1960s, to come forward with information about working conditions at the factory.
Mr Preston said: “It’s an absolute travesty that June’s life was cut short because she was exposed to asbestos four decades ago.
“It was absolutely devastating and to think it happened so long ago and that nothing could be done about it was agonising.
“We just hope this case can provide some answers for our family.”
Mrs Preston – the aunt of former Featherstone Rovers’ player Chris Bibb – joined Town Tailors after leaving school in 1961 at the age of 15.
The grandmother-of-three left the factory at 21 but her solicitors Irwin Mitchell say during her time at the Coronation Mills-based factory, she worked close to the presses which were powered by steam pipes lagged with asbestos insulation.
They claim the pipes were not maintained and the dust which came off was swept up daily, allowing the toxic particles to contaminate the air.
Ian Toft, a partner in the industrial illness team for Irwin Mitchell, said: “Mesothelioma is an incurable disease and the symptoms often don’t strike until several decades after being exposed to asbestos dust.
“Although this case can’t bring June back, it will provide some justice for her family and help highlight the importance of workplace safety.
“If anybody remembers working with June in the 1960s or believes they have information about conditions at Town Tailors during that time, we urge them to come forward with information.”
Anyone with information should email ian.toft@irwinmitchell.com or call 0870 1500 100.
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Tuesday 21 May 2013
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