Apprentice contracted deadly industrial disease in MoD dockyard

Brian Adams began his working life aged 15 in 1957 as an apprentice shipwright at Portsmouth dockyard, employed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), working on submarines, aircraft carriers and ships including HMS Victory.

While working on submarines, which were being refitted in a dry dock, he experienced significant exposure to asbestos which was contained in the insulation – although Brian was never given any protective clothing or equipment, nor was he warned of the dangers.

More than six decades later, Brian, from Gosport, developed mesothelioma - an aggressive and deadly cancer caused by historic asbestos exposure. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and a persistent cough.

Having lived a full life - which included single-handedly building the family home and enjoying a retirement with regular holidays to Thailand and Malaga to escape the winter weather – Brian first began to experience pain in his side in September 2022. After bravely fighting the debilitating symptoms of the disease, Brian passed away the following May, aged 81.

The MoD has since admitted liability for its role in Brian’s early death through his exposure to asbestos and a claim against the Government department has been settled.

Brian’s daughter Diana, who cared for her father in his final months, says she has concerns that others who worked in similar roles may also be affected – but the low profile of mesothelioma may mean they do not recognise their symptoms.

“There are a lot of people from this area who worked in Portsmouth dockyard, and many during the same time as my dad, so this is clearly a big local concern. My dad would not have been the only one,” says Diana, who lives in Lee on the Solent.

“But because mesothelioma is something many people still have not heard of, the symptoms aren’t always recognised. My dad had a heart bypass in 2001, so we thought his first symptoms of mesothelioma were something to do with his heart. That was what we were prepared for – seeing him go through the dreadful last few months because of mesothelioma was not something we had ever considered.

“It was a really terrible time towards the end, he was in so much pain. I remember sitting up with him at 2am one day and thinking ‘this is what trauma is like’. It was horrific.

“But often people with this terrible disease are only given the support they need when they’re taken off to hospital as an emergency, and only then is it discovered. Awareness of mesothelioma is still low, and you really don’t know where to turn when it becomes a reality for your family.”

Brian and Diana were supported by HASAG, which supports people with asbestos diseases across the South, and law firm Slater and Gordon handled the claim against the MoD on behalf of the family.

“We felt completely on our own at first, it is such an enormous thing to cope with, and I can’t describe how much of a comfort it was to speak to people who actually knew about mesothelioma and could give you the help and support we needed,” says Diana.

Sarah James, senior associate at Slater and Gordon, says: “It is enormously cruel to think that a 15-year old apprentice was being exposed to substances that will lead to their painful, traumatic and premature death years later – and sadly Brian’s case is not an isolated one.

“We have no doubt Diana will be correct in her presumption that many of her father’s colleagues will be similarly affected, which will see many other families forced to go through the devastation of losing their loved one in such a dreadful way.

“We are very pleased to have been able to support Brian while he was alive, and Diana after he had passed away, in pursuing their successful claim against the MoD, who failed to protect Brian from the harm of asbestos.”

Lynne Squibb, chief executive of HASAG, says: "A mesothelioma diagnosis is an absolutely devastating and traumatic thing for any family to experience and we are pleased to have been able to support Brian and his loved ones during a hugely difficult period in their lives. 

"Bespoke support is extremely important in asbestos disease situations, and many people do feel alone and unsure where to turn - as Diana says herself - so the fact we understand what families are going through and are by their sides throughout this is really important."