Former Old Bank of England demolition worker appeals for witnesses following asbestos cancer diagnosis

Steven Kenny, 64 from Woolwich, London was a demolition worker for MR Clayton & Sons / Gorst Clayton (he knew them as “Claytons”) from 1977 to the late 1980s. 

He was involved with various demolitions in central London but specifically recalls working on the refurbishment at the Old Bank of England in the late 1970s.

The Old Bank of England was previously owned by the Law Courts branch of the Bank of England from 1888 until 1975. 

Steven remembers stripping everything out of the building, including boilers located in the basement.  

He recalls using an axe to remove asbestos lagging from boilers, leaving the room, where he also ate his lunch, thick with asbestos dust.  

Steven recalls being on other job sites which involved working with asbestos, such as removing corrugated asbestos roofs from factories, and removing suspended ceilings with asbestos tiles from various old buildings. 

He says the work released clouds of asbestos dust, leaving him covered by the end of the day.  

Steven was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer most often caused by exposure to asbestos. 

Following his diagnosis, Steven instructed the asbestos team at law firm Leigh Day to investigate his case.  

His legal team is now looking to hear from other people who remember the refurbishment at the Old Bank of England, and anyone who worked with Claytons as they may have “vital information". 

The asbestos team is also looking into the identities of the work’s main contractors and Clayton’s insurers. 

Steven said: 

“My diagnosis with mesothelioma came as a huge shock. I am going to fight this as much as I can, but this has been a really difficult and distressing time for me and my family.

"I believe that I was exposed to asbestos when I worked for Claytons, in particular at the Old Bank of England building, but we need more information about who the contractors were on the job and who insured Claytons at the time I worked for them. I’d therefore be eternally grateful if there is anyone who could come forward and help. 

"If you know anything at all about Claytons or the refurbishment of the Old Bank of England in the late 1970s, please get in touch.”

Leigh Day partner, Ewan Tant, who represents Steven in his legal claim, said:  

“Steven recalls prolific exposure to asbestos fibres during his time working on the refurbishment of the Old Bank of England. 

“We are very keen to speak to anyone who worked there at a similar time to Steven and can provide further information about the working conditions, as well as who the main contractors were on the refurbishment of the Old Bank of England. However small it may seem, any detail could be a huge turning point in his case.”