Relatives win asbestos cash

The family of a Shropshire retired carpenter has won £130,000 compensation after he died from an industrial disease caused by exposure to asbestos.

Norman Perry, 70, from Randlay, Telford, was diagnosed with the asbestos-related cancer, mesothelioma, in April 2006 and died six months later.

Mr Perry, who lived with his partner Joyce Reynolds at Shamrock Way, worked as a carpenter and joiner at Salopian Building Company from 1964.

He was promoted to foreman in 1972 and worked exclusively at the Ministry of Defence ordinance depot in Donnington where he was exposed to asbestos.

Bosses from the former company admitted negligence after his death, solicitors for the family said today.

An inquest in 2007 heard a post-mortem determined Mr Perry died from bronchopneumonia and a verdict of death from an industrial disease was recorded.

His duties involved him removing and disposing of old asbestos roof sheets and replacing them with new sheets.

His long-term partner, Mrs Reynolds, 65, said: "Even after he was made up to a foreman he was still exposed to asbestos while supervising and assisting the workers on site."

She said it had been a great relief when the company admitted it had been negligent. Mrs Reynolds added: "This was the most important part of the process for us.

"No amount of money can make up for Norman's tragic and untimely death, but the admission by Salopian Building Company made us feel we had achieved justice for him."

Iain Shoolbred, a solicitor at law firm Irwin Mitchell, which handled Mr Perry's claim, said: "The claim was robustly fought by Salopian Building Company, but it admitted negligently exposing Norman Perry to asbestos after court proceedings were issued.

"The insurers for the company have now agreed to pay Mr Perry's family £130,000 in settlement of his claim."

The Salopian Building Company, Market Drayton, went into administration last year.

By Kirsty Smallman

• We have been asked to point out that a negligence case involving Norman Perry, which was reported in the Shropshire Star on February 27, 2009, was settled by insurers acting on behalf of Salopian Building Company as a company and not as individuals.