Appeal for answers after ex-lab technician’s death from asbestos cancer

John Rawlinson worked in labs in London and Manchester throughout the 1960s and 1970s before he and his wife, Barbara, moved to the Lang Toun.

Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer most often caused by exposure to asbestos.

Less than a decade into his retirement, he began experiencing symptoms around the time of his 75th birthday. In October 2025, a biopsy confirmed he had mesothelioma. Within weeks, John died, aged 75.

Barbara said: “John was a fit man, and had so many places he still wanted to take me. He used to volunteer at Quainton Railway Station in Aylesbury and he's sorely missed there. He had so much life to live and to enjoy. We had no children but had dogs, and they have suffered with his loss.”

From 1966 to 1968, John worked at Rowland Ward Ltd, which supplied zoological and biological artefacts for schools. He was based in an old Victorian building which he believed may have contained asbestos. As part of his role producing and preparing slides and clearing work areas, he recalled being required to sweep up dust.

John then worked at a public health laboratory service lab in Colindale, north London, until 1974 where he said he regularly handled large quantities of asbestos heatproof mats and tiles used with Bunsen burners, which he recalled having to clean daily.

He remembered that dust would be released from these materials during cleaning, and said he often had to hand-brush it from bench tops. As part of his duties, he also recalled handling asbestos wool and wire mesh.

John later worked as a lab technician at Hammersmith Hospital from 1975 to 1978, where he said he handled similar asbestos tiles and wire mesh on a daily basis. He also recalled working with similar materials while in a lab technician role at the University of Manchester in the late 1970s.

His widow and family are now appealing for help from anyone who worked with him and may have information about the conditions he worked in.

Shortly before passing away, John and his family instructed Kevin Johnson, a partner in the asbestos team at law firm Leigh Day, to investigate his case.

“Mesothelioma is a terrible and incurable disease which, in many cases, progresses incredibly quickly, leaving families with very little time to piece together how their loved one was exposed to asbestos,” Leigh said. “We had very little time to speak with John about his working life before he passed away.

“John’s family are now asking for help from anyone who worked with him. Even small details about the conditions he worked in could make a real difference in helping them find answers.”