A SWINDON woman has received tens of thousands of pounds in damages after her father died after being exposed to asbestos at work.

Julie Clark made the claim against BRB Residuary Limited, the successors of British Rail and British Motor Holdings Limited, the former owners of the Rover Car Factory in Swindon.

Her dad, William Evans who lived in Swindon’s Old Town, died in 2005 from mesothelioma.

That was caused by exposure to asbestos at two separate places of work.

Mr Evans worked for British Rail in Swindon between 1934 and 1954.

During that time he was a fitter, turner and erector and worked in the ‘notorious’ A Shop where large quantities of asbestos were used on boilers, pipes and cylinders on the old locomotive engines.

Between 1954 and 1980 Mr Evans worked as a millwright for British Motor Holdings, the old Rover factory, where he was also exposed to asbestos.

This time the substance was used in the brakes and clutches on the presses and also on tie rods. Mr Evans was never given any mask or protective clothing or warnings about the dangers.

Now his daughter has been awarded £46,000 in damages.

“Fortunately the case was settled out of court which was a great relief for Mrs Clark,” said her lawyer, Brigitte Chandler, of Charles Lucas & Marshall.

The legal practice is a specialist in industrial disease law and has brought hundreds of asbestos claims against British Rail over the years..

“Unfortunately claims against British Rail for asbestos exposure have been running for over 30 years are still arising because it can take up to 60 years for the illness to develop after exposure.”

Mr Evans was 88 at the time of his death.

He was a widower and had suffered from other infirmities for many years.

His frail condition meant he only suffered from mesothelioma for a period of five months.

“Many victims suffer for 18 months or longer,” said Ms Chandler. “The damages agreed with Mrs Clark reflect her father's age and other infirmities and the fact he did not have any financial dependants.“