Appeal to ex-factory staff to solve asbestos death mystery

Christopher’s Lee’s father-in-law Robert Stead, from Cleckheaton, died in April 1980 aged 73. He worked as a packer at the British Belting & Asbestos factory in Leeds from 1944 until 1970, and may have been exposed to asbestos fibres during this work.

Mr Lee’s wife, Pauline Lee, died last year aged 66, also as a result of mesothelioma – a cancer which develops after exposure to asbestos.

Although Mrs Lee never worked with asbestos, she did work in the offices at BBA and it is believed that she may have been exposed to dust and fibres while playing with her father or washing his clothes. Irwin Mitchell solicitors are investigating conditions at the British Belting & Asbestos factory on behalf of the family, and are looking for former employees to come forward.

M Lee said: “When Robert passed away our entire family was devastated, but we never expected that 30 years on this would all be brought back again.

“For the condition to then take his daughter, my wife, who had never so much as stepped foot in the factory, is just horrendous. I know Robert would be absolutely heartbroken to know that in his efforts to work and provide for his family, he had passed on a lethal condition which would eventually kill his daughter. We just want to get to the bottom of why he was exposed to asbestos.”

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