Man diagnosed with cancer may have been exposed to asbestos growing up in Leeds

Andrew Ward, 64 grew up in the Halton area of Leeds near Temple Newsam Park. His father, Fred Ward, worked as a cleaner at railway works Neville Hill Sidings between 1960 and 1971, cleaning the interiors of rail carriages stationed there. 

Andrew recalls his father, who died in 1971, wearing overalls to work, which would be covered in dirt and dust when he returned home. Andrew says the overalls were shaken out and washed by his mother, who also developed mesothelioma later in her life.  

In early 2024, Andrew, who now lives in Victoria, Australia, began experiencing symptoms of chest pain in October 2023. In April 2024, aged 63, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of cancer primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. 

Following his diagnosis, Andrew instructed asbestos lawyers at Leigh Day to investigate his case.  

Andrew and his family are looking for people who worked at Neville Hill Sidings at a similar time to his father in the 1960s and 1970s, who can offer any information about its working conditions and possible presence of asbestos.  

Leigh Day partner Daniel Easton, who represents Andrew, said:

“The evidence we have gathered so far strongly suggests Andrew was exposed to asbestos when he was just a child. Given Andrew's mother also developed mesothelioma in later life and his recollection of his father’s work clothes, it appears that this may well be a case of secondary exposure. His father’s former colleagues, or others who worked at Neville Hill Sidings at around the same time could potentially have information of vital importance to Andrew’s case.”