A CHARITY worker who died before he could receive an award in recognition of his work will be among more than 100 people remembered at an event to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos.

Colin Frayn-Elliott devoted huge amounts of his free time to the Amber Valley Rotary Club for more than 20 years.

Tragically, the 63-year-old of Greenhill Lane, Riddings, died before he could receive the Paul Harrison Fellowship – one of the highest honours a Rotary member can be given.

But he will be among 100 people, who have died from an asbestos-related illness, whose names will be projected on to the wall of Derby Cathedral later this month to highlight the dangers of the deadly dust.

His wife of 40 years, Carol, 60, said: "Raising awareness of mesothelioma is very important. It's a terrible disease.

"We were fortunate enough to have a trial operation that gave Colin an extra two years."

"But you can't eradicate a cancer like this, it's like a cobweb all over your chest, you can only really improve the quality and length of someone's life.

"I still meet people who are so blasé about it.

"I ask them whether they wear masks and things and they say no."

Mr Frayn-Elliott's disease lay dormant for nearly 50 years.

Within three years of being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, the father-of-two was dead.

The former managing director of Nationwide Ceramics, in Ripley, inhaled the dust when repairing naval ships for the Ministry of Defence between May 1963 and March 1966 in Plymouth.

In a letter written before his death, which was read out at his Derby inquest, Mr Frayn-Elliott said: "Asbestos was everywhere on the naval ships.

"It was a very dusty environment – my hair and body was covered in dust.

"I was never warned about the dangers I faced or given a mask. All that was provided was overalls and gloves."

The Cathedral event has been organised by Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team, Derby Cathedral and Quad.

More than 100 names will be projected on to the Cathedral wall for seven days from 7pm on Wednesday, February 29.

After the switch-on, there will be a short service with speeches and remembrance prayers.

Joanne Gordon, co-ordinator of Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team, said: "We want to raise awareness of the continued dangers of exposure to asbestos whilst paying tribute to all those who have died of this cancer."

Karen Clayton, at the Health and Safety Executive, said: "There are approximately 4,000 deaths each year as a result of historical exposure to asbestos. But it is not just a problem of the past.

"This poignant tribute should also get workers thinking whether they're doing enough to protect themselves from the disease."