Veronica Kidman, a 72-year-old former medical secretary, died from mesothelioma just one week after diagnosis in January 2026. Her family believes she was exposed to asbestos while hand-washing the work clothes of her late husband Ian, a BT field engineer from 1971 to 1989.
How the exposure likely occurred
Ian Kidman regularly returned home covered in a great deal of dust on his clothes and hair. Veronica would hand-wash his overalls several times a week, often scrubbing them three times to remove the dirt. Ian worked at telephone exchanges in East London, including Chingford, Leytonstone, Mile End, and Walthamstow, where he repaired telephone and switchboard faults. The family fears he may have worked in buildings with asbestos-lagged pipes.
Veronica's symptoms and diagnosis
Two years before her diagnosis, Veronica began experiencing extreme abdominal pain, lower back pain, bloating, and fatigue. She attended A&E multiple times in November and December 2025 with immune system issues. A CT scan in December revealed a mass on her abdomen, followed by a biopsy on December 23. She was admitted to hospital on January 6, diagnosed with mesothelioma on January 8, and died on January 15.
Family's search for answers
Daughter Becky Irwing, 41, and son Gareth Kidman, 44, are appealing to anyone who worked with their father to come forward. Becky said: “Mum was always cheerful and full of energy... We barely had time to process her diagnosis before she was sadly taken from us. I know dad would have been devastated to learn that his work may have contributed to mum’s illness if he were still here today. It wasn’t his fault. Like so many others, he should have been properly protected.”
Legal and expert commentary
Natalia Rushworth-White, an asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, stated: “Veronica’s death is another tragic reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created. While many people associate asbestos with heavy industry, its use was widespread across many occupations... We are also seeing a rise in the number of people, mostly women, being affected through secondary exposure such as washing work clothes.”
BT Group response
A BT Group spokesperson said: “We are very sorry to hear about the passing of Mrs Kidman. We have not received any legal claim from Mrs Kidman’s family, so it would not be appropriate for us to comment further.”
The family is using Action Mesothelioma Day to highlight the ongoing risk of asbestos. They urge former colleagues of Ian, particularly those at the Chingford or Leytonstone telephone exchanges, to provide information about working conditions.
