The family of a former boilermaker who died of the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma have issued an appeal for information relating to the conditions at the J Samuel White & Co shipbuilders yard in Cowes as part of their ongoing battle for answers.
An active, independent man until shortly before his death in April 2019, Derek John Tutton moved to the Isle of Wight with his family as a young lad, before taking up an apprenticeship as a boiler maker when he was 16. Working for J Samuel White & Co Shipyard, he was responsible for a number of tasks including packing asbestos around the boilers to retain the heat. He remained with the company until the early 1960s when he returned to the mainland.
His son Alex is now urging people who worked at the company throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s to come forward with vital information about the working conditions and the presence of asbestos at the shipbuilders in a bid to determine whether more could have been done to protect him from the exposure.
He has now instructed leading Industrial Disease Solicitors at Simpson Millar to help in their battle for answers.
The call to action comes after an inquest in February found that he had suffered an industrial death, with his lung cancer having been caused or contributed to by his past asbestos exposure in his employment.
Speaking to his family before his death, Derek recalled that he regularly worked with asbestos whilst at J Samuel White & Co Shipyard when he was making the boilers.
Remembering his father at the time of his diagnosis, Alex recalls:
“Dad was very tolerant of all of his symptoms and he just accepted everything as it happened. But before long his condition deteriorated, and he found it increasingly difficult to catch his breath.
Article continues below this advertisement “It was devastating to watch. Dad had always been an incredibly independent person and active throughout his entire life. All I could do was watch on as he lost so much of himself.
“Further to the inquest, I am desperate to determine whether more could have been done to protect him from this horrendous illness, and I would be incredibly grateful if anybody who worked at the shipbuilders in the 50s, 60s and 70s could come forward with any information about the working conditions.”
The family’s Solicitor Anthony Waddington, who specialises in asbestos claims said:
“Mesothelioma is responsible for around 2,500 deaths annually – a figure that continues to increase and devastate the lives of victims as well as their families.
“We are now appealing for witnesses who worked alongside Derek at JS Samuel White & Co Shipyard to come forward so that we can determine how and when he was exposed to asbestos.
“His family are understandably desperate for answers and hope that this process will help to give them a sense of closure.”
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Anthony Waddington on 0808 129 3320.
It is unclear from the article… do the family seek “answers”, or do they actually seek “money”? Because neither will bring back a much-loved relative…
Apparently with the dangers of asbestos totally unknown at the time the workers use to throw balls of it at each other
My dad worked there for years back then and also passed away with the same thing and my mother also caught it through washing my dad’s clothes
I worked for a well know firm on the island and had a job to do in a house i went in the loft it was covered in asbestos when i reported it a firm had to seal the place off with big tents to remove it all
The house is in cowes across from the bout builders place
I was told there used to big pipe going overhead over the road and the loft had a big pipe covered in asbestos
I work in whites in the 60 it was a good place to work but at the time we didnt know the dangers of asbestos my father died of it and I was diagnosed with lung cancer as well
Absolutely my father worked there too.
I think this person is just after some sort of compensation!!
Disgusting!!
You don’t know that ? Disgusting? You need to sort yourself out and apologise to the family for your comment.
Think not paddy!
People go sooo low to claim!
So how do you know what the family are thinking?
You are just a troll trying to discredit someone with your false allegations. Get a life.
West Wighter, It was first recognised in 1901 that asbestos caused lung injuries, the industry suppressed this knowledge. Since then the dangers of inhaling asbestos fibres became more and more apparent to the point that it became recognised as a cause of workplace death, and was recoverable in law.
Compensation is a right, and is not disgusting.
what is up with you W W I have this illness and have no need to tell you what its like or the treatment ive had and am having, I went for every penny from 2 firms I worked for 50 years ago, one of which is very close to Whites, pleased to say I won my case only this week, first part of payout at the end of this month, sorry West Wighter you know nothing.
I was an apprentice from 1976 when the company was Elliot Turbomachinery. Nothing was known about the dangers of asbestos then. I did a lot of work in and around the boilers during maintenance time. Yes, we had snowball fights with the stuff and it was generally floating in the air. Nothing unusual then. This was 40 – 45 years ago for me.
The link between asbestos and lung cancer was proven in the 60’s. You were NOT told of it, hence large compensation claims.