AN urgent appeal has gone out to find people who worked for an Alcester-based company after a former employee died from asbestos exposure

Following the death of her husband a grieving widow is appealing for help from anyone who worked with him for the Maudslay Motor Company.

In December 2018, Linda Butler’s husband Stanley died of mesothelioma, an aggressive and terminal lung cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos dust and fibres.

Stanley, aged 77, was exposed to asbestos while employed at Maudslay Motor Company at The Great Alne works near Alcester.

He worked as an engineer on the factory floor and was also a shop steward.

The Great Alne factory was opened at the beginning of the Second World War when the company moved its general service vehicles, tank, and aircraft components from Coventry to near Alcester to avoid air raids.

The company was later taken over by Rockwell International, an American Company, in the early 1970s.

Linda said: “Stanley told me that part of the work that took place in the factory involved the filing of asbestos brake linings. He said the procedure produced a lot of dust.

"There had been concern amongst the staff about the dust levels and the company was forced to carry out air quality inspections."

She added: "When Stanley was diagnosed with mesothelioma he expressed concern for his former work colleagues.”

In the summer of 2018 Linda noticed a change in Stanley.

He had become lethargic and lost his appetite.

In the August he had had one-and-a-half litres of fluid drained from his lungs and it would take him 10 minutes to get up the stairs of their home.

By November he could not face going upstairs and spent most of the day in a chair in the living room.

Linda, from Solihull, had to bathe him in the living room using a basin and cloth and became his full time carer with little or no help.

She said: “I have found it very difficult since my husband passed away. My home is quiet and I feel very much alone. I still expect him to walk into the room every day.”

Birchall Blackburn Law and The National Asbestos Helpline are helping Linda to make an industrial disease compensation claim to secure justice and the family’s future.

To do this Linda needs the memories of anyone who worked for Maudslay Motor Company.

Craig Howell, from the law firm, said: “Mesothelioma takes decades to develop and after such a long time it can be difficult to uncover the evidence needed to prove where and when exposure to asbestos dust occurred.

"To help Linda and her family we need to hear from anyone who worked for Maudslay Motor Company at Great Alne through the 60s, 70s and 80s."

If anyone has any information about working for Maudslay Motor Company they can call Birchall Blackburn Law 01244 684 475 or Jan Garvey at the National Asbestos Helpline on freephone 0800 043 6635.