WHEN William Fisher died 37 years ago, no one had heard of Swindon Disease.

The boilermaker at Swindon's railway works died of mesothelioma at the age of just 53 in 1965, when few people knew of the asbestos-related cancer. Mesothelioma has since killed so many workers in the town, particularly railwaymen, that it has been called the Swindon Disease.

But it was not until almost a decade after father-of-four Mr Fisher died that his family finally realised what had killed him.

His daughter-in-law Jo was working as a medical secretary in Princess Margaret Hospital's chest clinic in 1974. And part of her work involved dealing with the hundreds of local people who were suddenly reporting symptoms just like William Fisher. "When he died, we didn't know the things we know now about mesothelioma," Jo said.

"Things were beginning to be said and questions asked then, and we put two and two together. It was fairly obvious to us what had happened."

Jo, 61, from Birdcombe Road, Westlea, and her husband John, 66, are among the scores of people to have given to the Evening Advertiser's Swindon Disease Memorial Appeal.

Their contributions, and those of local unions, companies and other groups, have taken the total raised to almost £7,000 just £3,000 short of our £10,000 target. The Fishers think the appeal, which aims to found a memorial garden in Queen's Park where friends and families can remember the victims of the disease, is "very worthy and most appreciated."

Jo added: "It's just marvellous that they are being recognised now, and that they are being recognised for what they did for Swindon."

William Fisher, who lived at Cheney Manor Road, worked for 30 years at the railway works that helped make Swindon great.

He also served for four years in the Army during the Second World War, and was a stalwart of the North Swindon Working Men's Club, which he represented as a footballer, darts player, and club president.