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.
