Mother of former factory labourer appeals for witnesses after her son’s death from mesothelioma
The mother of a former labourer from Kent is urging people who may have information about the presence of asbestos at Haffenden factory to come forward.
Posted on 21 October 2025
Christopher Godden from Ramsgate, Kent worked as a labourer during his college summer break in 1973 at Haffenden-Richborough Limited on Sandwich Road.
His mother, Jean Godden, who also worked at the factory had helped him to apply for the position.
Christopher Godden and Jean Godden
The factory was comprised of multiple buildings spread across five acres of land on Sandwich Road. Most of the products made at Haffenden factory were rubber goods, including swimming hats, gloves, and plugs.
We understand Christopher worked in various departments around the factory, completing ad hoc tasks.
These tasks ranged from sweeping and removing to transporting debris, as well as working in areas where the maintenance team were conducting maintenance on lagged pipes. Leigh Day’s asbestos team understand there have been previous claims which found these pipes were lagged with asbestos.
Christopher was not provided with a mask or any respiratory protection.
During lunch breaks at Haffenden factory, Jean recalls that the workers ate in a canteen. Lunch breaks were staggered due to the size of their workforce, and employees wore their work clothes. This included the maintenance team who carried out repair work on the lagging, who may have had asbestos dust on their clothes.
Christopher started suffering from symptoms of mesothelioma in 2022 and was later diagnosed in December 2023.
Christopher Godden
Just five months later, Christopher died in May 2024 aged 72.
Christopher instructed Leigh Day after his diagnosis to investigate his claim, which following his death has been continued by his mother, Jean.
Jean’s solicitor, Claire Spearpoint, is keen to find others who remember working at Haffenden or know someone who did and was affected by asbestos exposure.
“We are appealing for anyone who worked at Haffenden-Richborough Limited in 1970s to come forward with information about how his asbestos exposure may have occurred.”
If you have information that may help Jean’s case, please contact Claire Spearpoint on 0207 650 1391 or via email at cspearpoint@leighday.co.uk.
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Asbestos and mesothelioma
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Industrial disease
Claire Spearpoint
Claire Spearpoint is a partner solicitor in the industrial disease team.
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