THE daughter of a Hayes carpenter is appealing to her dad’s former workmates for help as the family seek answers on how he came into contact with the asbestos that claimed his life.

Francis Brown, 85, died in March from mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung associated with exposure to asbestos, often decades previously.

His daughter, Janice Griffin, 61, instructed asbestos-related disease experts at Irwin Mitchell to investigate where her father’s asbestos exposure occurred.

She and the the legal team are keen to trace anyone who remembers Francis from his time as a carpenter at Dexion Ltd, Stonebridge Park, from 1961 to 1978.

They also want to hear from people with information about Southern Counties Storage Equipment in Uxbridge, where Francis worked from 1978-91.

Paul Ramsey, of Irwin Mitchell, said: “Any information former workmates could supply could prove vital in providing the family with the answers they deserve.”

While at Dexion, a former workmate recalled the pair working on a new staircase in the firm’s offices.

He recalled the use of asbestos boards, which Francis would cut to size in the workshop, using a circular saw.

The process generated a great deal of dust and neither man had a mask or protective equipment, the man said.

Southern Counties Storage were fitters of Dexion shelving products and his role with both firms consisted of general carpentry, installing shelving systems and the removal of old work and asbestolux fire proofing.

Francis started displaying symptoms of breathlessness in December last year. He was admitted to Hillingdon Hospital when he was found to have two-and-a-half litres of fluid in his lungs.

Janice Griffin said: “To see dad decline so rapidly was devastating to watch. He had been fit and well until he started suffering from breathlessness.  We were shocked to learn the problem was mesothelioma.”

Anyone who has information is asked to contact Paul Ramsay at Irwin Mitchell on 0203 0403 489 or email paul.ramsay@irwinmitchell.com