Family appeal over asbestos death of 'loving dad' decades after North East shipyard work
The family of a Sunderland grandfather fear absestos exposure at shipyards in South Shields, where he recalled "snowball fights" with the industrial debris, led to his death. Bert Culling, 88, died in 2024.He had been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer more than 40 years earlier - and had his voicebox removed. When he died, the post-mortem found he had lung cancer and incurable asbestos-related disease asbestosis.Now his loved ones - including wife Ethel, 89 - are fighting for answers. They have instructed lawyers at firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate the case.Ethel said: "Bert was only in his 40s when he started suffering with symptoms and was forced to give up work. It was difficult for a man who took pride in his work and skills to realise his active working life was finished at such a young age. Despite this he tried to carry on as best he could.“Bert was known for his strength and determination, but after the symptoms linked to his larynx started, he couldn’t lift anything heavy or dig the garden."After his larynx was removed, he became a prominent advocate for those to have had laryngeal cancer - including by playing a leading role at the Sunderland Laryngectomee Club and the National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs. For that work, he was made an MBE in 2022.Ethel added: "As Bert’s laryngeal cancer developed he was in and out of hospital. Despite this we were so proud of his dedication to supporting others and the laryngectomee clubs.Our ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East."The day he received his MBE was the proudest moment of his life. He felt so honoured and humbled to be recognised on behalf of everyone involved in helping patients and trying to improve healthcare for them.“Sadly, in the end it got too much for him. To later find out Bert had lung cancer and asbestosis came as a surprise."It was then I remembered how Bert started work not long after the Second World War and the ships were powered by coal fire boilers. Bert said his work was incredibly dusty and that he and his workmates would pick up debris and have snowball fights with it.“Bert was the most loving and caring husband and dad. He was my best friend and a real family man who didn’t deserve to suffer like he did. While we have some answers, still having unanswered questions regarding Bert’s asbestos exposure just adds to the grief we feel.“We know nothing can make up for what’s happened, but we feel we owe it to Bert to at least honour his memory by establishing how he was exposed to asbestos."Bert had begun work at Brigham and Cowan Limited aged just 15 - and spent around 30 years working there. That's when his family fear he was exposed to asbestos.They recalled how he and his workmates would have "snowball fights with debris from dislodged lagging". An inquest in March 2025 concluded Bert died from pneumonia caused by lung cancer and asbestosis. The hearing concluded he died as a result of industrial disease.Emma Bell, the family's lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Bert was a much-loved husband, dad and granddad as well as a community figurehead whose death continues to have to a profound effect on his loved ones and friends“While the inquest has provided some answers, Bert’s family continue to have a number of questions and concerns about how he was exposed to asbestos. While nothing can make up for his death, we’re determined to at least help provide them with the answers and closure they deserve.“Asbestos was synonymous with the North East’s shipyards and Bert’s family are keen to understand more about the working practices and conditions he faced at Brigham and Cowan.“The dangers of asbestos and the need for employers to ensure the safety of their workforce has been known for decades. Therefore, if anyone with information about the conditions Bert faced could come forward with information it could prove vital to our investigation."Anyone with information about the working conditions at Brigham & Cowan Limited is asked to contact Stephanie Denham at Irwin Mitchell on 0191 434 0731 or by email at Stephanie.Denham@IrwinMitchell.comOur ChronicleLive Daily newsletter is free. You can sign up to receive it here. It will keep you up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East.ChronicleLive has created a dedicated WhatsApp community for breaking news and our biggest stories. You can join this WhatsApp community here. It will keep you up-to-date with news as it breaks and our top stories of the day sent directly to your phone.
