Widow of South Tyneside man seeks help of former colleagues in legal claim over asbestos

Norman Crake, 75, of Simonside, died in August last year after developing Mesothelioma, the lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

He suffered considerable exposure to asbestos throughout his career as a heating engineer.

Before he died, he turned to Thompson and Co Solicitors to pursue a legal claim against his ex-employers.

Now the claim is being continued in his memory by his wife, Margaret Crake.

The claim focuses on employers Mr Crake worked for between 1961 and 1970. He worked for GN Haden and Co Ltd, based at the Quayside in Newcastle, between 1961 to 1966, and the Drake & Scull Engineering Co Ltd of Bristol, for whom he worked on several North East-based jobs from 1968 to 1970.

Mark Thompson, of Thompson and Co, said Mr Crake had been able to provide detailed descriptions of the asbestos exposure that took place while working for these companies, but his widow’s claim could be helped further if some of his former colleagues came forward to confirm the working conditions with these employers or the presence of asbestos.

He said: “We would be grateful to anybody to come forward who worked for these companies at around the same time, even if they didn’t know Mr Crake personally. We are trying to secure justice for his widow and help to provide for her future. Any help that anyone can provide could go a long way towards achieving that.”

Anybody who may be able to help Mrs Crake’s claim can call 0191 565 6290.