Widow of former Aston Martin worker appeals for information following his asbestos-related death

Christopher Hill died in December 2023, aged 45, of mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

Between September 1999 and August 2001 while on a university placement, he worked as an industrial trainee at Aston Martin sites in Newport Pagnell and Wykeham Mill, in Bloxham, Banbury.

He mainly worked at the Bloxham site, however he also spent around a month at the Newport Pagnell site where he helped to set up a new production line. Building works were taking place on both sites. 

Christopher returned to work for Aston Martin in 2005 and was still employed by the company when he died. He was proud to have worked for the company and called it his “dream job”. 

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2023 and died within three months of diagnosis.  

His widow, Diane Hill, aged 51, lives in Warwickshire with their children. Diane instructed industrial disease specialists at Leigh Day to investigate Christopher’s case.  

The asbestos legal team would like to speak to anyone who may have information on the presence, disturbance, or removal of asbestos from the Aston Martin Bloxham site and the Newport site during renovations from 1999 to 2001.  

Leigh Day solicitor Catriona Ratcliffe said:  

“It is really worrying that we are seeing more people of Chris’s age and younger being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. Although the use of asbestos was banned by 1999, it continued to be present in buildings such as the factories where Chris worked.  

“If anyone can provide information about the presence or removal of asbestos from either of these Aston Martin sites between 1999 and 2001, we would really like to hear from you, no matter how insignificant you think that information might be.”