Family say former Kent power station workers may have vital information after retired engineer dies from asbestos-related cancer

James “Jim” Malcom Christie, a husband and father to three stepchildren, worked at power stations across the country including Kingsnorth Power Station and the Isle of Grain Power Station in Kent.  

Jim was employed by Invensys Systems (UK) Limited), formerly known as Foxboro, between 1987 and 2009 and he recalled that he worked at power stations during this employment.

Jim, who was 74 when he died, recalled that he was exposed to asbestos while working at power stations because of asbestos lagging in the walls, roofs and pipes. 

He remembered being alongside workers cutting through asbestos lagging, and asbestos removal specialists being sent in to replace this lagging and that this process created clouds of dust and fibres in the air. 

Jim’s HMRC employment records also confirm he was employed by the following companies:

• Sitecast Limited; 1967/68 to 1970/71
• Kent Alloys Limited; 1969/70 to 1971/72
• Central Electricity Generating Board; 1972/73 to 1974/75
• Reed Paper & Board Limited trading as Imperial Paper Mills 1974/75 to 1976/77
• Coppas International UK Limited; 1976/77 to 1977/78
• Aughton Automation Limited; 1977/78 to 1982/83
• Hepgrove Services Limited; 1983/84 to 1984/85
• Global Automation Services Limited; 1983/84
• British Gas Corporation; 1984/85 to 1985/86
• British Gas PLC; 1986/87 to 1987/88
• Foxboro Great Britain Limited; 1987/88 to 2003/04
• Whitbread & Co Retail Div; 1988/89 to 1989/90
• Invensys Systems (UK) Limited; 2004/05 to 2008/09
• I P C Services (UK) Limited; 2008/09 to 2013/14
• Scantec Personnel Limited; 2014/15 

In October 2024, Jim began experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath and persistent chest pains before being diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2024.  

Jim died two months later, on 12 February 2025. 

Before his death, Jim had instructed the asbestos team at law firm Leigh Day to investigate his case, and his family are continuing the claim. 

Jim’s stepdaughter Sally Davey said: 

"Jim was devoted to our mother, who suffers from dementia, and cared for her until he became too ill to do so. Sadly, he was taken from her and us too soon by this disease which we believe could have been prevented." 

Leigh Day solicitor Andrew Cooper said:  

“Jim’s family are very keen to hear from anyone who worked with Jim in the past. In particular, anyone who worked at Kingsnorth or the Isle of Grain power station during the same period as Jim may have vital information about the conditions Jim worked in. Any detail, no matter how small it may seem, could be key to supporting his family’s search for answers.” 

If you can provide information that may help Leigh Day in their investigation, please email acooper@leighday.co.uk or call 020 3780 0430.