LAWYERS working for a Wiltshire woman who has been diagnosed with asbestos cancer after being exposed to the harmful substance when she worked at the EKCO factory in Malmesbury in the 1950s, have launched a bid to find her former colleagues.

Barbara Walker was exposed to asbestos when she worked at EKCO Malmesbury between 1950 and 1961. Her job was to check resistors at the electronics factory. She was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in January 2021.

EKCO (from Eric Kirkham Cole Limited) was a company producing radio and television sets from 1924 until 1960. Expanding into plastic production for its own use, EKCO Plastics produced both radio cases and later domestic plastic products; the plastics company became Lin Pac Mouldings Ltd.

Mrs Walker’s legal team from law firm Boyes Turner are appealing for help from people who worked at the factory at the same time as Mrs Walker.

Melloney Harbutt, Senior Associate Solicitor at Boyes Turner, said: “It would be really helpful to speak to any of Barbara’s former colleagues who can shed light on how she came into contact with asbestos when she worked at EKCO Malmesbury.

“Even if you don’t know how she encountered asbestos, it would still be helpful to speak to you if you worked at the factory at the same time as her. You may have information that would help in her fight for justice.”

Mesothelioma is a cancer most commonly affecting the lining of the lung. Around 2,700 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the UK each year. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos and has a long latency period of typically between 20 and 50 years.

To help, please contact Melloney Harbutt on 0118 952 7199 or email mharbutt@boyesturner.com.