Information Sought From Colleagues Who Worked With Father-Of-Three In West Yorkshire

The widow of a former joiner is appealing to her husband’s ex-workmates for help following his death from asbestos-related cancer.

Kenneth Linley, from Morley died just weeks after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

Prior to his death, the father-of-three had instructed specialist asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his illness and if his exposure to asbestos was linked to his work history. Kenneth died aged 80 before he could see his case resolved.

Following his death, Kenneth’s widow, Lynda Linley, 78, is now continuing her husband’s search for answers. Lynda and her legal team at Irwin Mitchell are now appealing to Kenneth’s former workmates to come forward with information on the working conditions he would have faced during his joinery career.

They are looking to hear from anyone who worked with Kenneth at construction firms George Monkman and Sons in Harehills, Leeds, from 1961 to 1969; M&G Construction, also in Harehills from 1969 to 1977. The rest of Kenneth’s employment was spent in England helping to build things in and around Leeds. He worked on St James’ Hospital doing an extension. Taylor Woodrow were the main contractors for this job. This was from 1977 to 1978.

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“A few months on from Kenneth’s death, Lynda and the family are still coming to terms with his loss and what the future holds without a much-loved husband and dad.

“While nothing can bring Kenneth back to his family, we’re committed to helping Lynda complete the journey her husband started and find the answers they both deserve concerning his exposure to asbestos.

“If any of Kenneth’s old workmates could come forward with their recollections, that information could prove vital in providing the family with some form of closure.” Dominic Riley - Solicitor

Kenneth started his career as an apprentice joiner at George Monkman and Sons As a firm of construction joiners, the company was involved in housebuilding and Kenneth’s role involved everything from hanging doors and fitting kitchens, to roofing.

In 1969, Kenneth went to work for M&G Construction. Kenneth worked on a contract the company had in Gibraltar and was sent abroad for four months, where he was employed maintaining navy barracks. Following this, the rest of Kenneth’s work was on contracts in the West Yorkshire area, including local community centres and hospitals.

This work included a maternity ward extension while employed by Taylor Woodrow in 1977.

Prior to his death, Kenneth recalled that the use of fire-resistant boarding, which he believed contained asbestos, was common in the building industry.

Kenneth said he would cut the boards to size using a power saw, which would create clouds of dust.

Born in November 1942, Kenneth lived in the Leeds area all his life and he and Lynda married in 1968. The couple have three sons, Damian, Gavin, and Mark.

Kenneth had been in good health until he developed a bad, phlegmy cough in March, 2023. Assuming he had a chest infection, Kenneth consulted his GP. Following tests, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2023. Kenneth died less than two months later on 12 August, with his family by his side.

Lynda said: “It’s still so hard to believe that Kenneth is really gone; it still hasn’t properly sunk in. Christmas and seeing the place where he used to sit empty was really hard for the family. I still think of Kenneth every day and while you try to move on, things will never be the same for any of us.

“Kenneth was a wonderful husband and dad and having worked hard all his life, he didn’t deserve it to come to an end as a result of this terrible disease.

“Less than two months after his diagnosis he was gone and while he wanted to pursue the truth about his asbestos exposure, we simply ran out of time. Together with our sons, we’re now going to do what we can to establish the truth for him.

“If any of Kenneth’s old workmates could get in touch with us, we’d be really grateful. Any details his former colleagues could provide would be such a big help in securing the answers we’re looking for.”

Anyone with information that could help Lynda is asked to contact Dominic Riley at Irwin Mitchell on 0113 394 6829 or by e-mail at Dominic.Riley@irwinmitchell.com

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