Asbestos - licence to kill

Licensed to Kill – the ever present danger of asbestos used in Bond locations

Throughout the film franchise and its 60 plus year history, James Bond has encountered plenty of villains around the world. However, one of the biggest that appears regularly and never discussed is the hazardous material Asbestos. In all its forms it can hide in plain sight least expecting a visit from our spy. Here are some locations (now mostly demolished or altered from their original views in the films):

Goldfinger DB5 car chase – Pinewood Studios.

Famous for the scene where James crashes into a wall – this is part of the original studios with asbestos cement sheeting and asbestos pipe lagging clearly visible throughout the scene

RAF Northolt

Used in various locations as airfields around the globe, particularly in Goldfinger, Thunderball and Octopussy, most of the original buildings have been demolished.  These were traditional second world war hangers with asbestos cement in particular noted around the site in film photos.

Octopussy hanger scene - RAF Northolt

Bond flying through a hanger which then explodes – fortunately just a model as the real second world war hanger is still present, long with other asbestos containing buildings on this ex RAF site.

For Your Eyes Only Blofield dropped from a helicopter – Beckton Gas Works

The unfortunate Blofield dropped into a cooling tower at Beckton, now demolished where hazardous materials had been used as part of the site processes, including pipe lagging, cement sheeting and other noxious materials.

Goldeneye St Petersburg Tank Chase - Leavesden Rolls Royce Factory

The infamous tank chase through walls and over bridges was filmed in Leavesden, now used for a certain schooling wizard studios, and in the past (now heavily altered) with plenty of asbestos materials if you look hard enough!

Despite being Licensed to Kill, asbestos can be managed – Alverprise provide the expert solutions necessary to comply with all the current regulations.  We are after all, as Bond says in Licence to Kill – “I help people with problems – More of a problem eliminator.” We assist anywhere in the UK as Bond quips in Thunderball –“Oh, I Travel – A Sort Of Licensed Troubleshooter”. Contact us to find out more!