Former Lagger Bryan Aldridge In Desperate Appeal For Colleagues To Help Determine How He Was Exposed To Deadly Substance

A “fighting fit” weight-lifting pensioner has been given just weeks to live after being diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer.

Bryan Aldridge, 76, from Semington in Wiltshire lifted weights every day to keep himself in shape until September this year when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lining of the lungs which develops often decades after exposure to the substance.

The former lagger, who worked at Brimsdown Power Station, in Enfield, North London, in the early 1950s, instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help track down former colleagues who may be able to shed some light on how he because exposed to the deadly substance.

His legal team is now appealing for anyone who worked at Brimsdown Power Station in the 1950s, or remembers Bryan at the site to contact them.

Bryan said: “It all came as quite a shock. Until I became ill I was weightlifting every day and by all accounts was fighting fit. Now I have just weeks to live and I’m worried I will never know why.

“I just want answers as to how I got mesothelioma, where was I exposed, and why I was not better protected. It’s too late to change anything, but knowing why is important to me and those I’ll leave behind.”

Bryan’s legal team believe he was exposed to asbestos while working for a company at Brimsdown Power Station, but due to the passage of time he cannot recall the name of the lagging company that employed him on site, just that it was the only lagging company working at the site and operated from a small hut.

At the time, all of the boilers at the power station were going through a process of re-insulation and, as an apprentice lagger, his job was to rip the lagging off the boilers and pipework. It is believed this lagging was made from asbestos.

In September this year, Bryan was referred for an x-ray by his GP after suffering an ongoing pain in his side. He was found to have fluid on his lungs and required an urgent drain. He was then sent for tests at Southmead Hospital in Bristol where it was confirmed he had mesothelioma.

Expert Opinion

“Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer which causes much distress to victims and their families.

"Through our work we represent a large number of people who develop mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos decades ago.

“Many individuals simply were not made aware of the dangers of working in the vicinity of asbestos lagging that was in a poor state of repair and sadly employers often did not do enough to manage the risk of asbestos exposure even as late as the 1980s when extensive legislation had already been passed.

“We are now appealing to any of Bryan’s former colleagues who worked at Brimsdown Power Station to come forward and provide us with information in respect of his working conditions at the site in the 1950s.

“It is really important for Bryan and his family to have answers around his illness, so any information, however insignificant it may seem, could be helpful.” Virginia Chalmers - Partner

Anyone with information regarding the working conditions at Brimsdown Power Station in the 1950s should contact Virginia Chalmers at Irwin Mitchell on 0117 926 1514 or email Virginia.Chalmers@IrwinMitchell.com