Alan Bickle was 58 when he died of mesothelioma, a condition connected to exposure to asbestos. As reported in the Jarrow and Hebburn Gazette, Mr Bickle had worked with the substance in a factory run by Filtrona. He died in January 2009, some years after working in the factory in Jarrow.
Mr Bickle left a widow when he died. June Bickle was devastated by the death of her husband. She is to obtain £50,000 in compensation as a partial settlement in the aftermath of a High Court decision, while the total compensation payout is calculated. However, the success of her compensation claim will not replace the loss of her husband.
Mrs Bickle made her feelings clear:
“I’m still devastated without him and sit at home talking to Alan. I’m originally from Newcastle, but I want to stay in Hebburn, because I feel closer to him here.”
Before the onset of the condition, the couple had hoped to retire to Cyprus, but the cruel industrial disease deprived Mrs Bickle of her hopes. Mr Bickle endured pain and considerable anxiety in his last months. It must have been torture for his wife to observe his suffering.
Mr Bickle had worked at the same factory for over three decades. The factory made cigarette filters. Approximately seven years ago, he was made redundant. He then worked for other companies in the Tyneside area. Two years ago he found that he was suffering from a pain in one of his lungs. A scan revealed that he had acquired the asbestos-related condition.
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