Daughters say father’s asbestos cancer death may be linked to decades repairing vehicles across Hertfordshire and north London
The family of a man who spent more than 50 years repairing vehicles in Hertfordshire and north London are appealing for information from former colleagues after his death, weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Posted on 24 July 2026
Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer most often caused by asbestos exposure.
Chris Lovell, who lived in and around Ware throughout his life, worked in vehicle repair as a panel beater, fitter and paint sprayer.
From the 1970s onwards, he was employed by more than a dozen garages across Hertfordshire and north London. Records show he worked for:
Hertfordshire based:
- Abledelt LTD
- D.A. Johns LTD
- D.J. Car Hire
- D.J. Sports Cars
- D.R.L. Engineering LTD
- Fyfe, Wilson & Company LTD
- Galaxy Coachworks LTD
- Hawke Racing Cards LTD
- M R H (Accident Repairs) LTD
- MRH Classic Cars Limited
- M.R.H. (Herts) LTD
- Multi Staff Limited
- Robert Dixon LTD
North London based:
- Little & Pace LTD
Chris’s daughters recall he was often expected to work in dusty workshops near welding and the changing of parts such as brakes and clutches. Hannah and Kimberley Lovell believe this may have exposed their father to asbestos dust, which their legal team say was often present in such materials.
Leigh Day partner Claire Spearpoint says it was common for panel beating tasks such as grinding, sanding and chiselling vehicle components to release microscopic asbestos fibres into the air.
During summer 2025, Chris began experiencing symptoms including back pain which progressed to chest pain and, that November, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Within weeks, he died on Friday 21 November 2025. He was 69.
Chris’s family have instructed Leigh Day to investigate how he may have been exposed to asbestos.
Claire Spearpoint, a partner in Leigh Day’s asbestos team, said:
“Chris died within weeks of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, leaving his daughters with many unanswered questions about how their father may have been exposed to asbestos.
“We are appealing for anyone who knew or worked with Chris to come forward with information about his time in these garages and the conditions he experienced.
“As a panel beater and paint sprayer, Chris would have spent many years in environments where tasks such as grinding, sanding, and working on brakes and clutches could generate significant amounts of dust, which may have contained asbestos at the time. Even the smallest detail could be crucial in helping his family find answers.”
Claire Spearpoint
Claire Spearpoint is a partner solicitor in the industrial disease team.
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