Sickened

Leslie Haddrell died of the disease in September aged 78. Since then, his wife of nearly 55 years, Beatrice, 79, has forked out more than £2,000 in solicitors' fees in a battle for compensation.

Like many other families of victims of the asbestos-related cancer dubbed the Swindon Disease because of the high number of cases from the town Mrs Haddrell believes British Rail, now known as BRB (Residuary Ltd), should pay compensation for negligence.

But according to Regent Circus-based solicitors Thring Townsend, the company is denying Mr Haddrell was ever an employee

This is despite joining the GWR works after leaving school at 15 and giving 22 years loyal service from 1937 to 1959 in the boiler shop as a riveter.

Leslie's name also sits among former workers on the wall of remembrance at the Steam museum.

Mrs Haddrell said: "The disease came on quite suddenly, but he was in a bad way for a while.

"Leslie used to work right inside the boiler without any mask.

"I used to wash his overalls and they were covered in dust.

"I just feel physically sick all the time, but I can't cry anymore. Leslie's name is on the wall of remembrance at the museum that's evidence enough, but they keep asking me for papers to prove he worked there and I don't have any it's as if he never existed at all.

"I'd now just like some recognition that he worked for British Rail."

Solicitor Brigitte Chandler, of Thring Townsend, said: "They are effectively saying people never worked for British Rail when they obviously did.

"Mrs Haddrell is an elderly lady who was happily married a long time. Now she is having to face this legal action and it's very difficult for her.

"We have even produced papers that clearly prove he worked for the railways and they haven't been accepted.

"This is not the best way to treat people. British Rail was aware of the problem and I would have thought a more sympathetic approach would have been appropriate.

"Our argument is that British Rail was negligent in not supplying protective clothing and the family have every right to put in a claim."

Mr Haddrell's son Malcolm, 47, added: "It's a real insult to my mother because the onus is now on her to prove my father ever worked there.

"It's not been a year since he passed away and we have all been through enough. How many more people does it take to say he worked there before they accept it?"

London-based solicitors Weightman Vizards, the company representing British Rail in the compensation claims, said they had no comment to make.

BRB (Residuary Ltd) spokesman Paul Sinclair said: "Our policy is to deal with mesothelioma claims as quickly and as sympathetically as possible.

"The money involved is taxpayers' money and as a public body we are under a duty to satisfy ourselves that the claimant is entitled to payment. Where we are unable to confirm employment from our own records we do of course consider any evidence produced by the claimant."

PANEL

EVENING Advertiser readers took our campaign to raise £10,000 for a permanent memorial to the victims of mesothelioma to their hearts.

The Swindon Disease Memorial Fund was launched in March and has so far raised more than £12,000 towards a sensory garden in Queen's Park.

At last week's cabinet meeting councillors unanimously approved plans for the garden, which will feature sweet-smelling flowers, a water feature and a small memorial with the names of victims, in a peaceful setting where friends and family can sit and remember.

Swindon-based solicitors Thring Townsend has taken up the cases of dozens of families seeking compensation for relatives who were exposed to asbestos while working at the GWR works in the town.