A DESPERATE widow is appealing to the Advertiser’s army of readers to help fight for compensation after her husband’s death.

Patricia Morris, 60, looked after her husband George with help from their 34-year-old daughter Alaina following his diagnosis with mesothelioma in February 2015. George died just two weeks later, aged 67.

Mr Morris was born and raised in Chilbolton, where his family has lived for three generations.

He worked as a mechanic blowing out brake pad linings containing asbestos, the dust from which can be fatal.

Mrs Morris, a care worker, is desperately hoping any work colleagues who remember George will be able to act as a potential witness in a legal case for compensation being put together by FieldFisher law firm.

“George’s last wish was that his family receive some compensation,” Patricia said.

“His last words were ‘someone should pay’.”

Solicitor Peter Williams, who is working on the case, said: “We know George worked in the Andover area as a mechanic for Pontings of Andover, the Ministry of Defence, Hyde Abbey Motors of Winchester and UBM Motors during the 1970s and 1980s, before setting up his own business in Wherwell.

“Sadly, he was too ill to give me much of a statement before he died so I’m hoping someone who worked with George over the years may come forward with useful information or evidence of working conditions in these sites at the time.”

As a young man, George raced with cycling club the Andover Wheelers, and also travelled around the UK visiting car rallies. He and Patricia met in 1978 and were married within six months. They had two children, Ricky and Alaina.

The Christmas before he died George complained of breathlessness and was suffering from a cold and chest infection, which quickly turned to pneumonia. He was later diagnosed with terminal cancer and was discharged home to be looked after by his wife and daughter.

“It was a cruel and shocking death,” Mrs Morris, who now lives in Finkley, said. “All George ever did was work hard to care for us and this is what happened to him. It is so very unfair and so heart-breaking to have watched him deteriorate in front of us so fast.”

Anyone who remembers working with George is asked to email Peter.williams@fieldfisher.com