Folkestone man appeals for information following his asbestos-related diagnosis

Now aged 75, he worked for Walker Bros (Civil Engineers) Ltd on their York Street site in Dover from 1972 to 1974, and on their Ashford site in 1974. He also worked for Shepway District Council at the Marine Pavilion Theatre in Folkestone from 1974 to 1986.
 


He is appealing to fellow employees to come forward and share their recollections of working in those locations and the potential presence of asbestos.
 


Between 1972 and 1974, he worked as a labourer and dumper driver for Walker Brothers on the construction site of York Street in Dover, and on the construction site of a road in Ashford. He was digging out footings for the kerbs and pouring concrete and tar. He remembers buildings being demolished by a company called Fuggle and Sherridan to make way for the new road, which created dust and debris.



From 1974 to 1986, he was employed by Shepway District Council at the Marine Pavilion Theatre as a doorman, stage attendant and manager. His job included preparing the venue and stage for the summer shows and operating the lights and stage curtains by using a switchboard with fuses during the shows.
 


In the summer of 2023, he noticed that he had lost weight and was experiencing abdominal pain. After undergoing various tests and investigations, he was diagnosed in August 2023 with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos.
 


Patrick Walsh, asbestos claims solicitor at law firm Leigh Day, said:



“We are hoping to help our client by locating anyone who worked on the York Street site or Ashford road site between 1972 and 1974, and the Marine Pavilion Theatre between 1974 and 1986 and who can provide further details about how his asbestos exposure occurred.”



Please contact Patrick Walsh of Leigh Day on 020 7650 1082 or email pwalsh@leighday.co.uk  or Aurelia Buelens on 020 7650 1192 or email abuelens@leighday.co.uk