"SEARCH FOR OUR MUM'S WORKMATES"

Gloria Brady back in the day, pictured right

Gloria died from mesothelioma

The daughters of a former TV manufacturing inspector are appealing to her workmates for help following her death from asbestos-related cancer.

Mum-of-two and grandmother-of-two Gloria Brady, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, died from mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Following her diagnosis, Gloria instructed asbestos-related disease experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her illness to whether it was linked to her work history. However, she died aged 75 before she could see her case concluded.

Following their mum’s death, daughters Donna Cockrell, 47 and Vicky Cotterill, 37 are continuing Gloria’s search for answers in her memory.

Ahead of Workers’ Memorial Day, Donna and Vicky are now joining their legal team in appealing to any of their mum’s old workmates to come forward with information about the working conditions she would have faced.

They are keen to trace anyone who worked with Gloria at TV Manufacturing Ltd - later, Pye Ltd – based in Lowestoft, from 1963 to 1976.

Natalia Rushworth-White, the expert asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Donna and Vicky, said: “For Donna and Vicky, the loss of their mum is still very recent and they and the family are still coming to terms with Gloria’s unexpected death. It’s yet another reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created with Gloria developing symptoms many years after her exposure is believed to have occurred.

“Nothing can bring Gloria back but we’re determined to support her daughters in their quest to continue their mum’s search for answers regarding how she was exposed to hazardous asbestos.

“Following Gloria’s diagnosis her condition deteriorated quickly but she was able to pass on some details concerning her working life. Therefore, as part of our investigation, we’d be keen to hear from anyone who remember working with Gloria. Any information could make all the difference as her daughters seek to establish the truth in their mum’s memory.”

Born in 1947, Gloria left school aged 16 and worked as a silkscreen printer in the TV manufacturing industry, which she worked in for most of her career. Gloria went to work for TV Manufacturing Ltd, later, Pye Ltd in 1963, before leaving in 1976. Initially starting manufacturing screens, Gloria went on to become an inspector, which involved supervising and checking the work of other people.

Gloria started to feel unwell with breathing issues in March 2020. Following many visits to her GP and tests at hospital, she was finally diagnosed with mesothelioma in May 2022. Gloria died with her daughters by her side just two months later in July 2022.

Following her diagnosis, Gloria told her daughters she worked in a large, open factory, with lagged pipework present within the factory. Gloria believed this lagging may have contained asbestos.

Over the years Gloria trained as a fully qualified hairdresser and did this in her spare time until no longer physically able to. She also enjoyed needlework but later on in life loved taking care of her grandchildren, who she spent much of her time with.

In a statement, Donna/Vicky said: “Six months on from mum’s death, we still can’t believe she’s no longer with us. The time from her diagnosis to her death was such a whirlwind that we haven’t really had enough time to process what her loss has cost our family.

“She was such a great mum and without her, life can never be the same. Last Christmas was particularly difficult and it’s going to take us all a while to come to terms with what this means for the future.

“We didn’t see mum’s initial symptoms as a concern at first and when the consultant finally confirmed mum had cancer we couldn’t believe it. We’d never heard of mesothelioma before but now know only too well how dreadful it is.

“Mum was so keen to get to the bottom of what happened to her but neither she nor us ever imagined that the disease would progress so fast and that she would be gone in a couple of months.

“If anyone out there who remembers mum or the factory at the time could come forward and help us shed some more light on this, we’d be so grateful. Mum didn’t deserve to have her life with her family cut short in this way and any details would help us fulfil her wish to find out how this happened to her.”

Anyone with information that could help Donna and Vicky is asked to contact Natalia Rushworth-White at Irwin Mitchell on 01223 791810 or email natalia.rushworth-white@irwinmitchell.com

* Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April remembers those who have died as a result of their employment, and campaigns to improve health and safety standards in the workplace and increase protection for employees.

if anyone can help Gloria’s daughters, they are advised to contact Irwin Mitchell on the above details