Family gives back to Manorlands after Bingley plumber's asbestos death

The money has been gifted to the Sue Ryder hospice in Oxenhope by the family of Richard Pickles, who died in 2019 from mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos during his career as a plumbing and heating engineer.

The Bingley father of two and grandfather of four was 73 when he died, and towards the end of his life received care from Manorlands.

Following his death, his wife Julie asked Irwin Mitchell to investigate his exposure to asbestos, and they secured a settlement for the family from Richard’s former employers.

This included care costs from his time at Manorlands, and now Julie has donated that £16,700 back to the hospice.

Mrs Pickles said: “At such a terrible and distressing time for our family everyone at the hospice was wonderful.

“They showed us so much empathy and compassion and provided the best care they could for Richard which we’ll always be grateful for.

“The donation is just our way of saying thank you and trying to give something back. We hope that this money means others will get the same quality support that Richard had.”

After leaving Bingley Secondary Modern at 15, Richard took up a plumbing apprenticeship, and worked for a number of companies in the district on residential and commercial properties.

After retiring he fell ill in 2016, being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a serious neurological condition, which affected his mobility.

He was making good progress from the condition, but then during a hospital scan the same year doctors noticed a nodule on his lung.

Julie Pickles hands over her family's donation to Manorlands

Following further tests he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer affecting the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos during his working life.

He underwent chemotherapy to extend his time with Julie and their children Marc and Joanne, but as he deteriorated he moved to Manorlands in early 2018, but he defied doctor’s predictions and was moved to a nursing home. However, he sadly died less than a year later in January 2019.

Mrs Pickles added: “It was awful seeing how the cancer affected Richard. He was six foot and weight 17 stone but following his diagnosis he lost around four stones in three months.

“As time went by, he became more and more reliant on others for care. He was still at home but it was becoming more difficult to give him the care and dignity he deserved so someone suggested we spoke to Manorlands.

“Initially it was respite care but they then arranged for Richard to be transferred to a nursing home. I would visit him every day as his condition continued to deteriorate.

“The doctors said he only had so long to live but his determination would outlive those predictions until the final time when he was too poorly to carry on.

“Life hasn’t been the same since Richard’s death. We had so many plans for the future and planned on spending many years together. However, that all changed when Richard was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

“We know nothing can make up for what happened but we’re so proud of the fight Richard showed until the end and are so thankful to Manorlands for all the help and support they gave us at such a dark time.”

Andrew Wood, community fundraising manager at Sue Ryder Manorlands, said: “We’re so grateful for this significant donation, which will make a huge difference in helping us to be there when it matters.

“We remain heavily reliant on individuals donating and fund-raising for us, and every pound will help us to continue to offer our compassionate care and support to local people and their families, and fill someone’s last days with love.”

Oliver Collett, the expert asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Richard’s family, added: “Hospices are vital in providing frontline care to almost 250,000 vulnerable people and their relatives each year at a very sensitive and emotional time for families.

“Despite ongoing care and funding pressures connected to the Covid-19 pandemic they continue to carry out amazing work.

“As such we’re delighted to have been able to recover these costs on behalf of Julie, allowing the family to say thank you to Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice.

“However, we also hope that this case and the pain and suffering Richard and his family had to endure acts as a warning to the dangers of asbestos and the need to employers to ensure their protect their staff at all times.”