Gerald Cook, known as Bruce, died of mesothelioma, a terminal form of cancer of the lining of the lung associated to asbestos exposure, often decades previously.
After the 82-year-old’s death in October 2024, his family asked specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his illness.
His daughter’s Fiona Dawson, 55, and Debbie Sheehan, 53, are appealing to anyone who worked with him to come forward with information.
Bruce with his family (Image: Submitted)
Debbie said: “When dad started feeling unwell nothing prepared us for what was going to happen.
“When we were told he had cancer and it was terminal, it was a huge shock. Dad had never smoked and was otherwise healthy.
“Following his diagnosis our focus was on helping and supporting Dad as much as possible so our family could try and enjoy what time we had left together.
“Dad was a lovely, kind and generous man. He was honest and hard-working and we all looked up to him for help and guidance, even as adults. Dad went from being an outgoing and independent person for his age to someone who was reliant on others.
Bruce died in October 2024 (Image: Submitted)
“One of us would be at his all the time looking after him, helping him shower or going shopping for him. It was awful to see how he deteriorated as the cancer took hold.
“Before his diagnosis we’d not even heard of mesothelioma, but sadly we now know just how awful it is.
“Our family will never be the same following Dad’s death, but the time is right to at least honour his memory by establishing how he was exposed to asbestos.
“If any of his ex-workmates could come forward with information, it would mean so much to us.”
Bruce around the time he worked in Ipswich and could have been exposed to asbestos (Image: Submitted)
Bruce left school at 14 to train as an electrician. He worked for various companies, often at airfields.
Bruce, who went self-employed until he retired aged 75, told his grandson Oscar Scotney, that during one of his jobs he used to mix asbestos into a paste.
He would often have to break panels to get to wiring, which he suspected may have contained asbestos.