The family of a former joiner have appealed for information from colleagues throughout his time working in Tyne and Wear to help them piece together clues to possible exposure to lethal asbestos.
Harrison (Harry) Fairless worked as a joiner in Tyne and Wear in the late 1950s, which his family believe contributed to his death from mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, at the age of 87. They believe that Harry was exposed to asbestos while working as a joiner at various locations under different employers.
It is likely that is exposure occurred while working at the Naval dockyard at Tyne and Wear/South Shields, and possibly Smith's dockyard from 1957 to 1960. Harry was born in South Shields, attended Cleadon Park School, and remained in the area until 1960 when he moved to Scunthorpe with his wife Brenda.
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Between 1957 and 1960, Harry worked on dockyards in Tyne and Wear and South Shields including the Naval dockyard. He would sometimes get the ferry across the Tyne from South Shields to North Shields, which his family believe means he also worked at Smith's Dock.
Harry did joinery work, fitting out various ships. Exposure when undertaking shipwright work is usually from lagging being done on board, but also from cutting asbestos boards.
Harry was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer in June 2022, and died the same month aged 87. Following Harry's death, his wife Brenda contacted law firm Leigh Day to investigate the potential use of asbestos at Harry's workplace and his family are appealing for former colleagues to come forward with any relevant information.
Leigh Day partner in the asbestos team, Helen Ashton, who is representing Harry, said: "We have very little information about the nature of Harry's exposure, so we need former colleagues of Harry or other workers from the dockyards to come forward and share memories of the working conditions and the use of asbestos on these sites at around the same time period that Harry was there.
"In particular, we are eager to speak to joiners, or other trades who worked amongst joiners. This will greatly assist with our investigations."
If you worked at the Naval dockyard or Smith's dockyard in Tyne and Wear/South Shields in the 1950s or 1960s and recall anything to do with asbestos being used or disturbed at the site, then please contact Alice Mapp at Leigh Day by email at amapp@leighday.co.uk or telephone 0161 672 5308.
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