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.

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.

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.

Dr Ed Neville
Ed is a consultant physician in respiratory and general medicine in Portsmouth. He has looked after patients with mesothelioma in this dockyard city since his appointment in1983 and previously in Newcastle. He is co-author of several papers relating to palliative care in mesothelioma.

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.

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.