THE partner of a man who died from exposure to asbestos is appealing for answers about how he came into contact with it.

Peter Matthews, a former operating theatre designer and engineer, died in November last year, having suffered 13 months of "horrific pain and distress".

The 90-year-old from Horsham had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung commonly linked to asbestos exposure.

Brenda French, his partner of 45 years, said that before his diagnosis he had still been very active and enjoyed a good quality of life.

Following Peter’s death, Brenda instructed a law firm to investigate how Peter was exposed to asbestos.

Expert asbestos-related disease lawyers later take over her case.

Brenda and her legal team at Irwin Mitchell are now appealing to anyone who can help verify how Peter came into contact with asbestos.

The appeal also coincides with Action for Mesothelioma Day, which is held annually on July 2 to raise awareness of the risks of asbestos and the impact that related illnesses have on lives.

Brenda, 82, said: “It was incredibly difficult to see how mesothelioma affected Peter and it is still so hard to come to terms with the fact he is no longer here.

“Peter was my best friend and soulmate. We were inseparable and did everything together. He was taken from me before his time.

“That he is no longer here leaves a huge void. To see him at the end and watching his suffering intensify daily was just devastating. He became a shadow of his former self.

“I’d be so grateful to anyone who can offer any information at all or who may have known someone who could possibly help.”

Brenda and the legal team are keen to hear from anyone who may have worked with Peter during his employment at Calmic Ltd in the early 1970s, and his role installing operation theatres at hospitals in Sussex, London and Dorset.

The company was a subsidiary of The Wellcome Trust Foundation, which Peter joined in the mid-1970s.

Lacey St James, the specialist asbestos lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Peter’s family, said: “Brenda and the rest of Peter’s family are understandably devastated by their loss and continue to have many questions regarding Peter’s exposure to asbestos.

“While many people often associate the use of asbestos in heavy industry, its use was also widespread in many public buildings such as hospitals, schools and offices.

“Before he died, Peter said how he believed exposure may have occurred during his time at Calmic and The Wellcome Foundation.

"He was involved in the design, development and launch of a pioneering and innovative modular operating theatre pod.

“Peter’s role included pre-installation and hospital site inspections.

"He often worked on old wards where he’d check walls and ceilings. Those ceilings featured white tiles that had to be removed and often in those days tiles such as these contained asbestos.

“As a result, we would be keen to hear from anyone who might have worked with Peter or who had any involvement at all with the installation of these operating theatres within NHS hospitals – specifically, Mile End Hospital in London, King Edward VII Hospital in Midhurst in West Sussex and Bournemouth General Hospital in Dorset.

“Peter’s death is a reminder of the terrible legacy asbestos has created and how it has affected, and continues to affect, so many lives.”

Anyone with information should contact Lacey St James at Irwin Mitchell on 0203 040 3445 or email lacey.stjames@irwinmitchell.com.