A WIDOW who lost her husband to a cancer is attempting to find out more about how he came into contact with asbestos.

It is believed Keith Russell of St Clement’s Gardens, St John’s, Worcester, may have come into contact with asbestos when he worked at Hardy and Padmore Ltd in Worcester for two years in the early 1960s.

Worcestershire’s coroner ruled that he died following “industrial disease”.

Mr Russell developed a cough and his breathing began to deteriorate in December 2009. He was diagnosed on Tuesday, March 16, last year, with mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest lining caused by exposure to lethal asbestos fibres. He died on Monday, December 27, last year at the age of 65.

Mr Russell is known to have worked for Hardy and Padmore Ltd from 1963 to 1965 where he undertook fabrication work.

Solicitors Irwin Mitchell claim the building he worked in had two furnaces covered with asbestos. The firm also believes the factory had boilers and drying kilns which contained asbestos.

Hardy and Padmore Ltd has ceased trading but wife Shirley Russell has launched a search to find other former workers who may be able to help explain how her husband came into contact with asbestos.

She said: “We had a very happy marriage and have two sons, a daughter and three grandchildren who miss him terribly.

“His illness came as a huge shock to us as he’d always been a very fit and active man.

“I cared for Keith during his illness and to see him suffer everyday was devastating.”

Kim Barrett, a workplace illness expert with the Birmingham office of Irwin Mitchell solicitors, who represents Mrs Russell, said: “We know that Keith died from an industrial disease but in order to obtain justice for his family I need to hear from people who have information concerning the working practices and presence of asbestos in buildings owned or used by Hardy and Padmore Ltd between 1963 and 1965.”

Anyone able to help can contact Kim Barrett at Irwin Mitchell on 0121 214 5407 or by e-mailing kim.barrett@irwinmitchell.com.