Grandfather John Middleton’s death at the age of 72 was linked to his first job as an apprentice plumber when he worked with asbestos believes his widow, Ann.

Mr Middleton, who lived in North View Place, Marlborough, died on his younger son Gary’s 49th birthday on Sunday, just eight months after visiting a doctor because he had a breathing problem only to be diagnosed with the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma has been dubbed “the Swindon disease” because many employees of the rail works who worked with asbestos contracted the disease which is caused by tiny barbs of the material adhering to the lining of the lungs.

Mrs Middleton, speaking on Tuesday on what should have been their 51st wedding anniversary, said: “He said the only time in his life when he worked with asbestos was when he was apprenticed as a plumber after leaving school.”

Asbestos was formerly used a lot for lagging water pipes and that, said Mrs Middleton, was where her husband believed he inhaled the fibres that led to his death more than half a century later.

He quit plumbing to join the army and signed on for 22 years with the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards but luckily having an option to leave after three years. “We wanted to get married and he was stationed in Germany and they could not guarantee him married quarters so he came out after three years,” said Mrs Middleton.

The former grammar school student and his wife were married in 1958 in Pewsey where she was brought up and their first home was in Sharcott.

For 18 years Mr Middleton worked in the building and civil engineering trade with both local and major national contractors on jobs that included building the Ogbourne St George bypass and sections of the M4.

He later spent 25 years at the Marlborough Tile Co as a storeman, retiring in 2001 to devote himself to his beloved garden and to enjoy several cruises with his wife.

They enjoyed a trip from Ontario to Vancouver Island and went on several cruises including one to Alaska for their golden wedding anniversary last year.

Mr Middleton is survived by his wife, sons Kevin and Gary, three grandsons and two granddaughters and one sister, Gwen Clarke who lives in Swindon.

Following cremation at Swindon on Monday there will be a thanksgiving service for his life, 11.30am, at Christchurch in Marlborough.