Trustees, patrons and medical advisors

Trustees

Adrian Budgen
Adrian is a solicitor and partner in the law firm Irwin Mitchell, based in Sheffield. He represents only claimants suffering from asbestos-related injuries.
Adrian successfully took June Hancock’s legal battle all the way to the Court of Appeal, where it became a landmark case in relation to environmental exposure to asbestos. He and June became firm friends.
Adrian is also a lay member of the All Party Parliamentary Occupational Safety and Health Group/Asbestos Sub Committee and campaigns for the rights of asbestos victims and mesothelioma sufferers in particular.

Russell Hancock
Russell is June Hancock’s son. He lives and works in Leeds as an operations manager for a large property development company. He is married, with a two year old daughter called Emily June. He takes an active interest in the Fund.

Vanessa Bridge
Vanessa came to know June Hancock as a journalist, whilst reporting her legal case in the Yorkshire Evening Post. They became firm friends and Vanessa was immensely supportive, both professionally and personally.
Vanessa is director of media relations at the University of Leeds, and continues to work hard to raise the profile of the asbestos tragedy in this country. She set up and runs the Fund’s website.

Kate Hill
Kate is a research fellow at the University of Leeds, and met June Hancock a number of times during her illness. Kate has worked alongside Dr Martin Muers as his research assistant and was pleased to become a trustee of the Fund.

Kimberley Stubbs
Kimberley is June’s daughter. She lives in York with her husband Michael and young son Andrew, and works in Wetherby as an oil company manager. Like her brother Russell, she feels very strongly about the deadly asbestos legacy, and helps run the Fund.

Dan Small
Dan Small

Patrons

John Battle MP
John is the MP for Leeds West , which includes Armley. He came to know June Hancock through her legal battle against the owners of the JW Roberts asbestos factory in Leeds. John was well aware of the ‘timebomb’ in that area caused by exposure to asbestos. John was very supportive, and continues to work hard in this area, campaigning for the rights of asbestos victims in Parliament. He is a member of the Asbestos Parliamentary Group.

Robin Stewart QC
Robin was June Hancock’s barrister throughout her two year legal battle against T & N. June thought very highly of her legal team, and was immensely proud of them as both professionals and friends, and Robin felt the same way about June too. With exceptional talent, Robin is highly regarded in his profession. Robin lives in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

Mavis Robinson MBE
Mavis worked as a Macmillan nurse in Leeds in the 1980s and 90s, seeing increasing numbers of a then little known and little reported incurable cancer we know as mesothelioma. She set up a national mesothelioma help and information line in 1998 and an advice pamphlet shortly afterwards. Mavis works tirelessly for the cause, and although officially retired, she works with the Ridings Asbestos Support Group.
Mavis was a great help to June and her family during her illness. In 2002 Mavis was awarded an MBE in recognition of her outstanding work.

Laurie Kazan-Allen
To say that Laurie is a tireless campaigner is an understatement. Laurie has advocated on behalf of asbestos victims both in the UK and abroad for many years, and is the co-ordinator of the ‘International Ban Asbestos Secretariat’. Laurie is also the Editor of the “British Asbestos Newsletter”.
Laurie has supported the Fund since its inception. She knew June Hancock quite well and was very impressed by June’s gentle determination in the face of her illness.
Laurie is highly respected both nationally and internationally in her field, and is striving to achieve a global ban on the use of asbestos.

Andrew Spink QC
Andrew is a highly regarded and very successful barrister who worked alongside Robin Stewart QC in June Hancock's two-year legal battle against T&N. Andrew has always taken a keen interest in the Fund, and fully supports our objectives.

Medical advisors

Dr Martin Muers
Martin is a consultant physician in respiratory medicine and general medicine at the Leeds General Infirmary and chair of the British Thoracic Society/Medical Research Council mesothelioma study group “MSO1” trial.
Martin was June Hancock’s consultant at Killingbeck Hospital in Leeds, and they acquired mutual admiration and respect for each other.

Dr Helen Clayson
Medical Director, Hospice of St Mary of Furness, Cumbria

Mr John Edwards
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield

Dr Patricia Fisher
Consultant Clinical Oncologist (medical), Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield

Page last updated: 6 November 2008