THE widow of a former carpenter and joiner, who died while suffering an illness caused by asbestos exposure, is appealing to her husband’s ex-colleagues for help to investigate how he was exposed to the lethal dust.

Reginald John Harris, known as John to his workmates, was diagnosed at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in March 2013 with asbestosis, a chronic inflammation of the lungs leading to breathing complications.

John, who was living in Cornwall at the time of his diagnosis, died aged 72.

He was married to Marion for nearly 50 years. She believes Reginald’s condition may have been caused by exposure to asbestos during his time working at Husbands Shipyards at Cracknore Hard, Marchwood, from 1966 to 1973.

The company was famed for making military craft including minesweepers, and also yachts and fishing boats.

During Reginald’s time at Husbands, he worked on many vessels including the RFA Sir Tristram and RFA Sir Galahad which saw action in the Falklands War.

He was also sent to work on oil tankers moored at Fawley and helped refurbish the staterooms aboard the liner QE2.

Marion has instructed specialist asbestos disease lawyers at Novum Law to investigate her husband’s working conditions at the dockyard.

Andrew Walker, a solicitor at Novum, said: “We hope that someone will come forward who can shed some light on the presence of asbestos at the Husbands Shipyards. Perhaps they remember working alongside John or can recall asbestos being on board the ships he worked on."

Mr Walker can be contacted by phone on 0845 160 3513, email at awalker@novumlaw.com or via the website www.novumlaw.com.