PENSIONER Mary Tipping has received 95,000 in damages from British Rail after her husband died as a result of exposure to asbestos at work.
Mrs Tipping, known as Paddy, 89, of Queens Avenue, Highworth, lost her husband Charles Jack Tipping in February last year, aged 91, from mesothelioma.
He had worked for the Great Western Railway in Swindon from 1932 to 1965.
The claim was brought by the familys solicitor, Brigitte Chandler of law firm, Charles Lucas & Marshall and a specialist in asbestos claims.
Mr Tipping was exposed to asbestos in a number of shops in the railways.
Unfortunately there have been many fitters who have worked in these shops who have died as a result of exposure to asbestos cancer, said Ms Chandler.
Sadly, I anticipate there will be many more.
The illness can develop up to 60 years after exposure.
In this case, Mr Tipping would have been exposed to asbestos during his apprenticeship yet did not develop the illness until he was 91.
For the people who were exposed to asbestos in the railways, this is something they will have to live with all their life.
Mr Tipping was the third generation of his family to work at British Rail and all three family members are mentioned in the railway museums list of past employees.
After completing his apprenticeship, Mr Tipping went on to work in several railway sheds where steam pipes were lagged with asbestos and where boilers, covered in thick white asbestos, came in for repair.
He was regularly in contact with boilers, pipes and cylinder which were covered in asbestos.
When I first started dealing with these claims, British Rail invariably disputed them, said Ms Chandler.
It is now much easier because British Rail tend to accept liability and are aware there is no defence.
Mrs Tipping said of her husband: He was a true gentleman and is sorely missed.