Action Mesothelioma Day takes place on 4 July 2025, and is a national campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos, and the accompanying health issues of asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is caused by fibres of asbestos remaining in the lining of the lungs, and symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, a persistent cough and unexplained weight loss. It can also affect the lining of the abdomen, causing symptoms of stomach pain or swelling, a feeling or being sick and diarrhoea or constipation. It can take 20 years or longer for mesothelioma to develop, and primarily affects people working in construction, such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians, and also the shipping industry, as they are more likely to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace, or use materials made from asbestos.

The NHS estimate that there are around 2,500 deaths from mesothelioma in the UK every year. Famous people that have passed away from mesothelioma are:

• Paul Gleason, an American actor who played Vice Principal Richard Vernon in the film The Breakfast Club.
• Steve McQueen, an American actor who starred in the films The Great Escape and The Magnificent Seven. In 1974, he was the highest paid actor in the world.
• Ann Ebsworth, an English barrister and the first female High Court Judge to be assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division.

To find out more about Action Mesothelioma Day, please see the Mesothelioma UK Website here – https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/amd25/

The theme for 2025 is ‘Go Blue for Meso’ and Mesothelioma UK are encouraging people to take part in a Blue Light Walk to fundraise and raise awareness.

Williamsons have significant experience in successfully pursuing industrial disease claims involving asbestos. Cases in respect of asbestos exposure are often challenging to pursue, due to them involving businesses that may have long since stopped trading and it is important to have the assistance of legal practitioners who are specialised in this area.

Jill Robinson, who is a Chartered Legal Executive at Williamsons specialising in asbestos related claims, recently reached a six figure settlement in respect of a claim for mesothelioma. The claim related to exposure to asbestos whilst working in the caravan industry in the 1970s and 1980s. She says:

“This was a difficult case to pursue, given the Defendants conduct throughout. Every aspect of the claim was denied, even down to the caravan company alleging they were not the correct Defendant, as the corporate history of their company was complex. Despite the Defendants’ conduct, we remained steadfast in our pursuit of justice for our client, and with the help of some very good independent experts, who provided excellent expert evidence, we were able to convince the Defendants that they were unlikely to win if they took the case to Trial, and ultimately we reached a very good outcome in our settlement negotiations. I am pleased to have been able to successfully conclude this difficult claim, whilst avoiding the need for my client to have to attend a Trial”.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact us on 01482 323697 to discuss how we can help.