'Cancer is a cruel disease' says wife of Staffordshire coal miner who has died
The family of a former colliery worker who died from an asbestos-related cancer are appealing for information as lawyers investigate whether his illness was caused by exposure while working for the former National Coal Board.
“Cancer is a cruel disease and it broke my heart to see him suffering knowing there wasn’t anything I could do,” says the wife of a former coal miner who died from an asbestos-related disease.
William Black, known as Billy, from Rugeley, died aged 75, on June 27, 2024 six months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. His condition had deteriorated quickly and a post-mortem examination confirmed that he had also died from mesothelioma.
The inquest held on October 17, 2024 concluded that exposure to coal dust and asbestos contributed to his death.
He worked at West Cannock 5 Colliery, in Brindley Heath, Hednesford, and at Lea Hall Colliery, in Rugeley, between the 1960s and 1990s. Mesothelioma is a terminal form of a cancer, usually of the lung lining, and is most commonly linked to asbestos exposure.
Following his death, the Blacks instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers to investigate whether his exposure and illness could be connected to his work with the former National Coal Board.
The family are now appealing to former workers at the collieries to come forward with information about the conditions staff faced.
Jasmine Hunte, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “This case is yet another reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created and how families continue to be affected years after exposure is suspected to have taken place.
“While nothing can make up for the hurt and pain the family continue to face, we’re determined to at least provide them with the answers they deserve.
“If anyone could come forward with information about working conditions at these collieries, it could provide vital to our investigations and at least providing our client with a form of closure.”
Originally from Patna, in Scotland, Billy relocated to Rugeley in 1964.
During his working life he worked as an underground coal miner, at Hednesford he had surface worker duties between 1964 and 1966 but spent most of his career at Lea Hall Colliery doing face training from 1966 to 1970 then working as a face worker until 1990.
At West Cannock 5 Colliery, he began by learning the basics of face work before progressing to ripping, heading back ripping, and other types of face work.
Colleagues recall Billy working in the tailgate at Lea Hall Colliery, an area where dust from the coal face and the main gate drifted in, including dust produced by cutting coal, drilling and using explosives. This meant Billy was regularly exposed to significant levels of dust daily. Billy had to move tubs and carry out other general labouring.
Throughout Billy’s time working in the collieries from the 1960s to 1990, he used hydraulic air tools, mechanical coal cutters, boring rigs, windy picks and wombats to carry out his work.
Before his diagnosis, Billy began to feel unwell with symptoms including worsening shortness of breath, loss of appetite and severe pain in his leg.
Billy married wife Sandra, aged 75, in 1970. They had five sons, David James Black, aged 48, Robert William Black, aged 52, Stephen Thomas Black, aged 42, and Craig Black, who sadly passed away aged 28. He had 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Sandra Black said: “Billy was a wonderful man with a wickedly dry sense of humour. He loved getting out and meeting new people – he was naturally curious and genuinely interested in others. I think that’s why he was liked by everyone he met.
“We have a big family and Billy loved us all. He was very family‑oriented, and he adored taking me on holidays and spending time with our grandchildren and great‑grandchild. He lived a quiet and gentle life. He enjoyed cooking, and he had a real love of birds.
“Cancer is a cruel disease and it broke my heart to see him suffering knowing there wasn’t anything I could do. Billy was irreplaceable and while nothing can bring him back, we owe it to him to establish answers.”
Anyone with information that could help the families should contact 0121 214 5473 or email [email protected]
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