73112-12A WIDOW whose husband died of asbestos related lung disease is appealing for his former workmates to come forward so she can sue for compensation.

Glen Tayler was just 59 when he died in May from mesothelioma a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It is also known as the Swindon Disease due to the large number of cases in the town.

And his grief stricken wife Linda, 51, of Woodhall Park, believes he contracted the disease after working at the former Swindon builders merchants John Webb Limited in the 1960s for just eight months.

She said: "Glen took early retirement from his job in insurance in 1999 and I took voluntary redundancy from Zurich last March so we could spent some fun time together.

"We had six good months, going on holiday, doing the gardening and walking the dogs all that sort of thing.

"Then everything went downhill.

"We were on holiday in north Wales when Glen started to feel quite breathless.

"We went home and the doctor sent him up for X rays which is when they found some fluid and he was diagnosed.

"It was horrendous and a complete shock.

"He was only in his 50s but this was a death sentence for him."

There was nothing the doctors could do for Glen and he died on May 18.

Linda described him as a wonderful man who loved football and gardening.

The couple, who had no children, had been married for 21 years after meeting on the stairwell of their flats in Swindon in 1983 and getting engaged three weeks later.

Linda said: "I'm completely on my own now and I feel completely devastated.

"I know there's no point in getting angry about this though.

"I do want to take the company to court not because any money will ever bring him back but for justice, really."

An inquest confirmed that Glen died of mesothelioma.

Linda believes that while he was working at John Webb Limited in Station Road later known as Bambergers (MidWest) he was often in the builders' yard where asbestos sheets and guttering were being sawed.

The company no longer exists but Linda hopes to apply for compensation from its insurers.

Anyone who worked with Glen or who can help with any other information should contact Brigitte Chandler at the solicitors Charles Lucas and Marshall on 01793 511055.

Diana Milne