Family Seek People Who Worked for North Thames Gas Board in Fulham in 1960s

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Appeal for help finding out how Keith Jaycock contracted fatal asbestos related cancer

The family of a man who worked for North Thames Gas Board at Imperial House in Fulham's Townmead Road during the 1960s is looking for people who worked with him.

Keith Jaycock, pictured above, called a 'loving father' by his family, died in 1916 at the age of 70 from mesothelioma, a cancer which develops decades after exposure to asbestos.

Now his widow Sally and their three children are appealing for help to establish how he contracted the disease, and asking for anyone who worked with Keith at North Thames Gas Board between 1963 and 1965 to come forward with information about working conditions at the site.

Keith grew up in Shepherd’s Bush and joined North Thames Gas Board in 1963 after leaving Christopher Wren School. He worked in the accounts section of the building and property maintenance department at Imperial House in Townmead Road, which was located next to the gas works.

Before his death Keith, who was married to Sally for 42 years, told his family how he would have to access documents from an adjacent building once a month. He remembered that the building had large covered pipes from which dust would always fall onto the ground.

Keith and Sally had two daughters, Karen and Claire, aged 38 and 30, and a 34 year-old son Michael, as well as four grandchildren.

Keith visited hospital in 2015 complaining of severe chest pain. In June that year he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He started chemotherapy but died in June 2016.

Sally said: "The first we knew something was wrong was when Keith had to come in for a rest when cutting the grass. That was not like him at all as he had also been a fit man.

"When we found out he had cancer all the family were stunned. Keith bravely tried to fight the disease and it was heart-breaking to see the cancer get the better of him.

"He was my soul mate. I will forever cherish the time we had together but I feel we still had many more years ahead of us."

Son Michael added: "I can remember dad telling me that the building he had to go in once a month was always filthy and covered in dust.

"We realise nothing can ever make up for the loss of dad but we still deserve answers regarding how he came into contact with asbestos and whether more should have been done to protect him.

"Any help from any of his former colleagues and workmates could make a huge difference."

The family have nstructed specialist industrial disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he came into contact with the hazardous material.

Lacey St James, expert asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s London office, representing the family said: "While asbestos exposure is commonly linked to industrial environments, we are seeing a growing number of cases related to offices and public buildings such as retail units, schools and hospitals.

"Sadly Keith never got to find out what caused the cancer that took his life. We now want to provide Sally and the rest of her family with some closure by helping to establish the full reasons behind the death of a loving husband and father.

"We would appeal for anyone who may be able to help in providing the family with the vital answers they deserve as to how Keith came to be exposed to asbestos to come forward."

Anyone with information on the work conditions at the North Thames Gas Board in the 1960s should contact Lacey on 0203 040 3445 or email laceystjames@irwinmitchell.com.

March 9, 2018