Widow's plea to late husband's former workmates after his tragic cancer death

Michael Patrick Parkinson, 73, known as Pat, died three months after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal form of cancer linked to exposure to asbestos often decades previously.

Following Pat’s death last year, his wife Janet, from Bingley, instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether his illness was linked to his career. 

Janet 67, and her legal team are appealing for his former workmates to come forward with information.

In particular they are keen to hear from colleagues who worked with Pat at Shorts Lifts in Keighley between 1963 and 1969 and while he was employed by Keighley Lifts between 1969 and 1970.

Both firms pre-date and are different to companies operating in the present day with the same name.

Pat started at Shorts Lifts as an apprentice in 1963. Before his death he told Janet he would often have to go into confined, dirty and dusty spaces to carry out repairs.

He then joined Keighley Lifts for a short while and after leaving the company Pat, who married Janet in 1976, undertook work in joinery before returning to engineering.   

He started complaining of trouble sleeping in August 2019. Initially it was thought he may have muscle problems. However, following an X-ray and scan he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in October 2019. He died on January 25, 2020.

Janet, who has two children, James 40 and Kerry 38, and three grandchildren, Sadie five, Nell, two and one-year-old Enid, said: "Pat was the best husband and dad anyone could have wished for.

“He was never happier than when spending time with his family or out walking with the dog,  He had a great love of football – his favourite team being Liverpool.

“The news of his diagnosis came as a huge shock. We hadn’t event started to trying to come to terms with it and what it meant when he died. Pat’s condition went downhill so quickly and it was awful to see him as the cancer took hold.

“Because of this we feel we never really got to say goodbye to him properly.

“The last year without Pat has been a real struggle. We know nothing can make up for his death but we feel we deserve to honour his memory by at least finding out how he was exposed to asbestos.

“We would be so grateful to anyone who came forward with information. Any detail could make all the difference to our family.”

Hannah Robinson, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Janet, said: “Pat’s death is another reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created. Understandably Janet and the rest of the family remain devastated by their loss and have a number of questions about how Pat was exposed to asbestos.

“While the use of asbestos is well-known in heavy industry its use was also widespread in public buildings such as schools, offices and hospitals.

“As part of our investigations we would like to hear from Pat’s former workmates who may have information about the conditions he faced.

“Any detail could prove vital in providing Janet and the rest of the family with the answers and closure they deserve.” 

Anyone with information about working conditions Pat faced at Shorts Lifts or Keighley Lifts should contact Hannah Robinson at Irwin Mitchell on 0113 394 6842 or email  hannah.robinson@irwinmitchell.com