A 65-YEAR-OLD HEMEL HEMPSTEAD PAINTER WAS AWARDED

A 65-YEAR-OLD HEMEL HEMPSTEAD PAINTER WAS AWARDED #60,000 IN
THE HIGH COURT FOR AN ACCIDENT THAT CURTAILED HIS WORKING LIFE.

THE COURT HAD HEARD HOW THOMAS ROBERTS, OF CLEVES ROAD
FELL 13 FEET FROM A SCAFFOLDING TOWER WHILE DOING SCENERY PAINTING
AT EMI STUDIOS IN BOREHAM WOOD, HERTFORDSHIRE.

HIS COUNSEL, MR.

ROBERT CLANCY, SAID MR ROBERTS HAD
INTENDED TO WORK BEYOND RETIREMENT AGE BUT HE HAD BEEN UNEMPLOYED

SINCE THE ACCIDENT SEVEN YEARS AGO.

‘HE HAS SUFFERED HEADACHES, DIZZINESS AND FORGETFULLNESS SINCE
THE ACCIDENT,’ COUNSEL CONTINUED.

‘HIS DOCTORS TOLD HIM NOT TO
CLIMB LADDERS – AND YOU CAN’T BE A PAINTER IF YOU CAN’T CLIMB
LADDERS.

‘
THE COURT WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MR.

ROBERTS SUFFERED FROM A STIFF
AND PAINFUL WRIST WHICH MADE PAINTING DIFFICULT.

IN 1979 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, HE HAD RECENTLY TURNED
FROM A 50 YEAR CAREER AS A PAINTER AND DECORATOR TO SCENERY PAINTING.

HE WAS EMPLOYED BY STARLING PRODUCTIONS OF FINCHLEY ROAD,

HAMPSTEAD AND HAD WORKED ON VARIOUS FILM SETS.

HE WAS PAINTING

BACKDROPS FOR THE REMAKE OF ‘FLASH GORDON’ WHEN THE ACCIDENT

OCCURRED.

‘HIS CAREER HAD TAKEN A CHANGE WHICH WAS LIKELY TO

SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE HIS FINANCIAL SITUATION,’ MR.

CLANCY SAID.

HE ADDED THAT MR.

ROBERTS’S SON WAS IN THE SAME FIELD AND

COULD HAVE PROVIDED HIS FATHER WITH EMPLOYMENT BEYOND THE AGE OF 65.

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 9 WHEN THE TOWER MOVED AS
MR.

ROBERTS BENT TO PICK UP SOME PAINTING EQUIPMENT.

HANDRAILS WHICH MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED HIS FALL WERE NOT IN

PLACE, THE COURT HEARD.

STARLING PRODUCTIONS CLAIMED THAT MR.

ROBERTS SHOULD HAVE
REPORTED TO A RIGGER THAT THE TOWER WAS NOT SAFE AND THAT HE
HIMSELF SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE CARE.

ENDS