A ROYAL Wootton Bassett widow has received undisclosed damages after her husband’s death fromas a result of asbestos exposure during his career with British Rail.

Graham Hutchings died at the age of 68 in 2012, 17 years after he retired from a 36-year career with British Rail (BR), where he latterly worked as a building services manager for the western region.

The family’s solicitor, Brigitte Chandler, of Swindon law firm Charles Lucas & Marshall, said Mr Hutchings was continually exposed to asbestos during his time at BR.

“Mr Hutchings started as an apprentice in 1959 in Wolverton, Buckinghamshire, and worked in areas where asbestos was sprayed or used to cover steam pipes,” said Brigitte.

"He said it was common for people to pick up asbestos lagging from the floor and make balls with it which they threw around. He also worked in York, Derby and Marylebone as well as the Swindon area for British Rail where he was a senior manager.

"In all the regions he worked, for British Rail he was never given any protective clothing or warnings of the dangers of asbestos.”

After he retired Mr Hutchings did voluntary work at St Peter’s Church, Swindon. He started having health problems in November 2011 and was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos.

The Swindon and South West Asbestos Group is a regional charity formed to provide free of charge support groups and information to asbestos sufferers and their partners.

For more information, call 01793 532995, email info@asbestosgroup.co.uk, or visit www.asbestosgroup.co.uk