Did you work at Scaffolding GB Limited in the 1960s?

The family of James Finn, a dedicated scaffolder who succumbed to mesothelioma at the age of 88, is reaching out to his former workmates for insights into his working life. James, known as Jim or Jimmy, passed away on July 21, 2021, due to asbestos-related disease, leaving his family in search of closure.

Born in 1933, James worked tirelessly as a scaffolder, rising to the position of foreman/supervisor. Until his retirement in 1998 at age 65, he had worked for several scaffolding companies across London from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. This included working on some of the capital’s iconic buildings, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Barbican Towers, and the Old Bailey. James was part of a team employed by Scaffolding GB Limited to work on the construction of a sixth-floor annexe platform at the Old Bailey in 1961. He remembered scaffolding boards were covered in dust and fibrous material left by other tradesmen, which he had to clear when dismantling the scaffolding.

As a scaffolder, James was a continually active man, with fitness and exercise among his main hobbies. He continued weight training throughout his life and was still lifting weights in the gym until he became ill. Following a visit to his GP, James had various tests and was diagnosed with mesothelioma following a biopsy in May 2021. He sadly died a short time later on 21 July 2021.

James's family, led by his wife Valerie and daughter Susan, is partnering with Slater and Gordon's London Industrial Disease team, led by specialist Asbestos Disease lawyer Edmund Young. They are appealing to James's former workmates, especially those who worked with him at Scaffolding GB Limited in the 1960s, to come forward with any information about the working conditions he faced.

Valerie Finn, expressing the family's sentiments, said, "Jim was a larger-than-life character. To watch such a fit and strong man deteriorate in the way he did is something I'll never forget."

“To watch such a fit and strong man deteriorate in the way he did is something I’ll never forget. Jim worked hard his whole life supporting his family and didn’t deserve to suffer as a result of mesothelioma. To have him taken from his family, including his granddaughters who loved him dearly, before his time, has been very hard for everyone.”

The family is particularly interested in connecting with individuals who worked alongside James in the Moorgate, Holborn, and Aldgate areas. Any information provided will contribute to the family's quest for answers and fulfil James's last wishes.

For further information, please contact Nikol Litvinova at 0330 995 5759 or email Nikol at Nikol.Litvinova@slatergordon.co.uk