'He became a shadow of himself': Family of Chatham dockyard worker appeal for more information after death
Leslie Scott, from Rochester, died from mesothelioma in 2023
Last updated 28th Jan 2025
The family of a former Chatham dockyard worker - who died from a cancer caused by asbestos- have told us he became a 'shadow of his himself'
In September 2023, Leslie Scott from Rochester began experiencing shortness of breath and after an x-ray showed fluid in his lung he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died just three months later in December 2023, aged 89.
Leslie Scott, from Rochester, worked at the docks between 1950 and 1955 as an apprentice bricklayer. He was involved in a number of projects including building a school and experts believe this five year period of his working life is the most likely source of his exposure to asbestos.
Leigh Day solicitor, Claire Spearpoint, said: "The dockyards were a massive employer in the Kent area and thousands of men would have worked in them both onboard the ships as well as in the dockside itself.
"Asbestos was known as a magic mineral so it was used onboard in ships and in buildings and therefore a lot of the employees at the docks would have been exposed to it in a variety of roles.
"It's this exposure that exclusively causes mesothelioma and it can be decades before the disease manifests itself and it's always terminal and is always a very short prognosis."
And now his family are appealing to anyone who worked with Leslie at a similar time, who can provide information about the presence of asbestos and help build a clearer picture of his working conditions.
Sue Morely is Leslie's step granddaughter, she said: "You wouldn't even believe his age, because he was that active but the last few months were quite bad, he got very very poorly and you could see the struggle in him breathing and how hard it was.
"My dad ended up becoming his carer essentially. He made his dinners, bathed him, cleaned him, took him to the toilet because this impact on his breathing took away his ability to do anything. It got to the point where he didn't want to go out or drive so that illness took all that away from him.
"We don't know why Leslie started this claim, he never discussed it with us because he was a private person. I just think he must have been angry or wanted this disease to be known and all we can do is try to carry on what he started."