Witness appeal from family of former firework maker after death from asbestos cancer

Shirley Witcombe died from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, in February last year.

Her family believe the lethal exposure to asbestos happened when Shirley worked for Astra Pyrotechnics Ltd (known as Astra Fireworks) at a site in Sandwich, Kent, 

Now they are appealing for information from anyone who worked alongside Shirley and might be able to help them find out more about her time in the fireworks industry. 

Shirley spent time abroad in Germany with her husband John, who worked for the RAF, but began working for Astra Fireworks when they returned to the UK in 1985.  

She worked in one of the huts at the company’s site in Sandwich, manufacturing fireworks by sorting components into cannisters.  

Shirley recalled that the huts, which have since been demolished, were covered by corrugated roof sheets made of asbestos, which were damaged in the Great Storm of 1987.  

Shirley was required to keep her work surface clean as part of her job, and therefore had to use a dustpan and brush to clean her bench at the end of every day. She recalled there being dust present, made up of components for fireworks and general debris from the building. 

Shirley did not recall the presence of asbestos in any of her other places of work.  

Having retired in 2000, Shirley began experiencing issues with her breathing in 2023. After tests at her GP and lung drains, she was referred to hospital in November where a biopsy confirmed her diagnosis with mesothelioma. 

Shirley subsequently instructed law firm Leigh Day to investigate a claim, but died in February 2024 aged 78. 

Her claim is now being continued by her family, who are looking for witnesses who worked either with Shirley or around the same time as her at Astra Fireworks, in particular at the site in Sandwich. 

Shirley's husband, John Witcombe, said: 

“Following her diagnosis, Shirley only had a few short months before her life was cut short too early because of this terrible disease. We miss our wife, mother and grandmother very dearly, and we would sincerely appreciate any information that might be able to help us find some answers.” 

Leigh Day partner Ewan Tant, who represents the family, said: 

“Shirley tragically passed away from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, in February 2024. Her family have since continued her legal claim, and are hoping to hear from anyone who worked with Shirley at the same Astra Fireworks site, or around a similar time to her during the 1980s, where she remembered there being asbestos present. Any information could be important to her family’s claim.”