Sheffield grandad who worked at factory and famous pubs and clubs wants answers after asbestos-related cancer
Shock diagnosis for grandad worked for years as an upholsterer in the city
A Sheffield upholsterer who worked in some of Sheffield’s best known pubs and clubs of the ‘70 and ‘80s wants answers as to how he was exposed to potentially deadly asbestos.
Alan Cuthbertson, now aged 75, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer has asked lawyers to investigate how he was exposed to the asbestos set to claim his life.
During his time running A&R Upholstery, Alan recalled working alongside other contractors and employees carrying out work that generated dust and debris. His role also involved travelling to commercial customers, predominantly older pubs and clubs across Sheffield, which may have contained asbestos. In particular, he recalls working at the Freedom Pub on South Road in Walkley and also First Leisure nightclubs and Romeo’s and Juliet’s in the city.
Alan was born in Sheffield and lived there until he moved to Leicester in May 1986 during which time he worked at Waldo’s (also known as Waldenberg’s), which was a wholesale furniture manufacturer that was based in Moorfields, Sheffield initially and later moved to Chesterfield.
The dad-of-three and grandad-of-two is now searching for answers and has instructed expert asbestos-related disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he was exposed to asbestos.
Alan has now joined his legal team in appealing to his former colleagues to come forward with information about the working conditions he faced.
Nicola Handley, the specialist asbestos-related disease lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Alan, said: “Mesothelioma is a devastating disease that continues to cause suffering for thousands of people and their loved ones across the UK.
“Sadly for Alan’s family, this form of cancer is incurable and can be severe, often taking people from their families.
“While nothing will make up for Alan’s diagnosis and the uncertainty he and his family are facing, we’re determined to provide them with the answers they deserve and to support them in every way we can.
“If any of Alan’s former colleagues, or anyone who worked at these companies, is able to come forward with information, it could prove vital to our investigation.”
Alan joined Waldo as an apprentice upholsterer in 1966, completing a five‑year apprenticeship. He believes the factory may have contained asbestos and that he would have been exposed to dust when he regularly undertook cleaning duties, dry sweeping the dust that would settle in the premises.
When the company shut down in 1975, he started up his own business, A&R Upholstery where he remained until the early 1980s.
During his time running A&R Upholstery, Alan recalled working alongside other contractors and employees carrying out work that generated dust and debris, including older pubs and clubs.
Alan and Dalphine married in 1997 and had three children, Thomas, 35, Daniel, 33, and Lauren, 27. He also has one grandson, Magnus, who is aged two and granddaughter Ada who is a month old.
Alan started experiencing symptoms including shortness of breath and pain in his right side in August 2025. A month later, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Alan started dual immunotherapy treatment through the NHS in October 2025, a type of therapy that uses the immune system to detect and fight cancer cells and has recently started chemotherapy treatment.
Alan said: “Upholstery has always been more than just a job to me – it’s something I’ve loved doing and I’m still working now.
“When I started suffering with symptoms there’s no way I thought it would end up with being told I had cancer. Nothing prepared me for that moment, and it came as a huge shock to everyone.
Stay informed about Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Get more stories like this and the day’s top headlines with our free daily newsletter
“We’re still trying to come to terms with my diagnosis. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, going on long walks with Dalphine and our dog, especially along the coast. But lately I’ve become increasingly breathless and I now struggle to keep up, which has been incredibly hard to come to terms with.
“Dalphine and I spend as much time as we can with our family. I usually look after our grandson, Magnus, each week and that means everything to me. I have to make the most of every moment we have together.
“I know nothing can make up for my diagnosis but I’m determined to get the answers I need for my family while I can.”
Anyone with information that could help Alan’s family is asked to contact Nicola Handley at Irwin Mitchell on 0113 220 6233 or by e-mail at [email protected]