Grieving Widow Appeals For Witnesses After Husband’s Asbestos Cancer Death
A grieving widow has told of her heartbreak after her husband’s rapid decline and sudden death, confirmed only at the post-mortem to be from the deadly asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
Paul Oram, 78, a great grandfather from Folkestone, Kent, was taken to hospital shortly after Christmas in 2025, with what was initially believed to be a chest infection. However, his condition deteriorated and he was too unwell to undergo a lung biopsy to diagnose suspected cancer. Paul returned home but subsequently suffered a stroke and was taken to hospital again. He wanted to spend his final days with his family and returned home a few days before he died, on 1 February this year.
A post-mortem later confirmed that his death was caused by mesothelioma. He leaves behind his widow Yvonne, two children, five grandchildren and a great granddaughter.
Yvonne describes her late husband’s final illness and death: “This was a really nasty way to pass away. Paul was in so much discomfort and it was just awful to watch.
“We couldn’t believe it when they said he was exposed to asbestos, that it could take just one time of breathing the fibres in.
“We were told at the hospital that we needed to get in touch with the coroner and the police, because it was an industrial injury. We were in shock, it was just awful.”
Paul’s family have since traced his employment history through his tax records. These confirm Paul worked for the London Borough of Southwark during the tax year 1968-69, where Yvonne recalled that he was tasked with removing fireplaces from council houses.
Paul also worked at Marley Foam Limited during tax year 1984-85. Based in Lenham, Kent, the company was a subsidiary of the Marley Tile Company. It is believed that Paul was involved in the production of car components within the factory at Lenham. Asbestos was historically used in car components in the UK until a complete ban on asbestos use in the UK in 1999.
Paul’s family is now appealing to any former colleagues, either from London Borough of Southwark or from the former Marley Foam premises, to come forward and give evidence regarding the exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma and was widely used across the country until some asbestos types were banned in 1985, with the ban finally extending to white asbestos and all asbestos products in 1999. Due to the insidious nature of the toxic fibres, it typically takes many decades after the exposure for victims to show symptoms of the incurable illness.
Yvonne says: “Paul was my best friend. I knew him for 60 years and we were married for 58. He was a very outgoing sort of person, he liked parties and socialising. He enjoyed darts and playing golf. He worked hard and didn’t take nonsense off anyone.
“He liked going to watch the Super Bikes at Brands Hatch and had been working again, at the Battle of Britain Memorial. We had been going on holidays before he got sick, he was a sun-worshipper. He was a family man and loved spending time with his family. He’s going to miss his granddaughter’s wedding, but I know he’ll be looking down on us.”
Lorna Webster, Partner in the Asbestos and Workplace Illness team at Hodge Jones & Allen, said: “Paul’s family are desperately seeking answers in the midst of their grief. Asbestos took Paul away from his loved ones far too soon. We call on anybody who may have worked with Paul, either at Marley Foam or in Southwark, to come forward. Evidence of exposure to asbestos dust is the only way justice can prevail.”
If you think you may have information which could help the appeal, please contact Lorna Webster on lwebster@hja.net or phone 0330 822 3451.