THE FAMILY of a Huddersfield worker who died of an asbestos-related cancer are appealing for his former colleagues to come forward.

Thomas Holland – known as Tom – spent more than a decade working for Huddersfield glazing firm Heywood-Helliwell Ltd during the 1950s and 60s.

The Wilmslow man lived in Huddersfield during the week and travelled back to his Cheshire home at weekends.

He died in September, 2007, when he was aged 82.

A post-mortem revealed he had been suffering from asbestos-related lung cancer.

Now Sheila Holland – his wife of more than 60 years – and their four children are hoping his former workmates could help their fight for justice.

Witnesses who can confirm Mr Holland was exposed to asbestos fibres at work between 1952 and 1962 are vital in the family’s bid for compensation over his death.

Industrial disease specialist Lesley Mynett, of Fentons Solicitors in Manchester, said: “Mr Holland said that during his time with Heywood’s he was exposed to significant amounts of asbestos.

“We know that during his work he glazed the roof lights of Turner Brothers Asbestos, where there was a great deal of asbestos dust in the parts of the factory he worked in and the roofs he worked on.

“He was also routinely exposed to asbestos on plumbing jobs, when he disturbed pipe lagging at places like the Clayton Aniline dye factory and the ICI chemical plant.

“It takes many years after exposure to asbestos before any related disease becomes apparent, which can make finding witnesses and information about the employer very difficult.

“The problem we now face is tracing colleagues who can confirm that Mr Holland worked for Heywood-Helliwell during this time and that he was exposed to asbestos on a regular basis.

“Unless we can track them down and prove that Tom was exposed to asbestos, Mrs Holland and her family may go uncompensated for the fact that they lost a husband and father to this dreadful illness.”

Mr Holland’s daughter Kathryn Black is hopeful someone will come forward to help her family win justice for her father.

She said: “Dad worked all his life, but it was the work he had done more than 40 years ago that killed him. He spent more than 10 years in Huddersfield and I just hope that some of his former colleagues remember him.”

Anyone who remembers working alongside Mr Holland or who worked for Heywood-Helliwell Ltd during the same period is urged to call Lesley Mynett on 0161 238 6417 or e-mail lesley.mynett@fentons.co.uk