A FORMER British Rail employee, who died from an asbestos-related cancer, always wondered if his work would make him sick, an inquest heard.

John Garbett made a statement about his working life seven months before his death from malignant mesothelioma.

The 62-year-old became a British Rail apprentice in 1961, working at the Carriage and Wagon Works, in Litchurch Lane, Derby.

He spent many years in George Shop, building railway carriages which he believed were insulated with asbestos.

In the statement to a solicitor in November, after being diagnosed with the illness, he recalled health checks were carried out one day.

The statement, which was read out at the inquest into his death, said: "An official-looking gentleman came into one of the carriages with a machine which looked like a generator. Someone asked what it was and was told he was there to check air quality. I did wonder whether work was going on in a harmful area but I did think British Rail would look after us."

Mr Garbett said the firm provided him with overalls and gloves – but not masks or breathing equipment.

In later years, he said British Rail paid triple time to other workers who stripped blue asbestos from carriages, operating in sealed areas and using breathing apparatus.

Mr Garbett, who went on to become a school caretaker in Etwall, left the Railway Works in 1988 and never again worked close to asbestos. He died at home in Oakland Avenue, Littleover, on June 9.

Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner Dr Robert Hunter recorded a verdict of death by industrial disease and passed his condolences to the family.

"Unfortunately, we will see this disease for the next 20 to 25 years before hopefully it becomes something of medical history," he told them.

Pathologist Dr David Semararo said a postmortem examination identified "occasional asbestos fibres" around a lung.

After the inquest, Mr Garbett's wife, Betty, 72, paid tribute to the father-of-four and told how he loved carving wooden figures and how he enjoyed his last job as a caretaker at Etwall Primary School.

She said: "He loved working at the school. He was like a father figure to the children. They liked him and he had a wonderful way with them."