The family of a former photography technician who moved to a High Wycombe retirement village but died after being diagnosed with mesothelioma say her loss has been "difficult to accept". 

Judith King, who lived at Hughenden Gardens Retirement Village and was active in the community, was diagnosed in July 2020 with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos - often decades previously.

Following her devastating diagnosis, Judith instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how she was exposed to asbestos - but she died in June 2021 aged 79, before she could see her case concluded.

She had been exposed to the deadly material while working at Wolverhampton Polytechnic in the West Midlands in the Art and Design School as a photography technician between 1975 and 1999. 

Judith’s family took on her quest for answers, with the family’s legal team issuing High Court proceedings against the University of Wolverhampton, which succeeded the former polytechnic.

A judge agreed to enter judgment against the university, meaning it was liable for Judith’s exposure and death.

The court ordered that the university make an interim payment of damages to Judith’s family. However, the family is still waiting for the payment and legal discussions are continuing to secure them the funds.

In 1985, Judith read an article in the local paper about the Polytechnic building she had worked in being closed due to the discovery of asbestos. Judith was concerned enough at the news that she kept the article, but never imagined at the time it would come to mean anything more.

The article revealed that the Polytechnic arts block was closed, after a survey revealed that nine-tenths of the building contained brown asbestos, discovered after a ceiling collapse.

Judith, moved to Hughenden Garden Village, in High Wycombe, to live closer to her family.

She first started to feel unwell in March 2020, when she began feeling weak and short of breath.

She was diagnosed with mesothelioma in July 2020, and died in June 2021 with her family by her side.

Before she became unwell, Judith was active and involved in the Hughenden Garden Village Residents’ Association where she lived, and oversaw producing the local newsletter for the residents.

Her grandaughter Rebecca Jacques, 29, said: "She enjoyed playing bingo, meeting at the cafe with her friends and she had enrolled onto an evening dance club which she would go to in Gerrards Cross, as she loved dancing back in the West Midlands.

"She also worked in the library as a volunteer, making sure books were sent back, or picked up.

"She spoke about her job at the Polytechnic and before she was unwell, she reflected fondly about her time there.

“Nan was so loved by so many people and her loss remains difficult to accept.

"There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t think of her, of how much she enjoyed helping others and her great sense of fun.

"There’s a real sense of pride in what she did but also a hole in our lives now she is no longer with us.

“To lose our nan to this awful disease is a tragedy. Our upset at the university’s failure to comply by making the payment ordered by the court adds to the pain and insult that we as a family have gone through.

“Hopefully by speaking out we can make more people aware of the dangers of asbestos and at the same time, see these issues resolved and allow our nan to finally rest in peace.”

Emma Guy, Chartered Legal Executive at Irwin Mitchell, said: "“It’s nearly two years since Judith first instructed me to investigate her case and it was cruel that she didn’t live to see the successful conclusion she had set her heart on.

“Judith’s family remain understandably devastated by her death which is yet another tragic reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created.

"While many people may associate the use of asbestos with heavy industry its use was widespread and the material is still present in many public buildings including schools, colleges and universities as well as hospitals.

“Judith’s family are disappointed at the university’s stance throughout and that rather than admitting liability the case had to be taken to the High Court for them to get the justice Judith deserved.

“We continue to support the family at this distressing time and call on the university to work with us to resolve the case, allowing Judith’s family to try and move on from what’s happened the best they can.”