The family of a "wonderful" carpenter are seeking out his former workmates to help establish how he was exposed to asbestos.

David Fiddaman, originally from Rushmere St Andrew, died in January 2024 at the age of 82, after suffering from mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer associated with industrial diseases.

It is believed that the former carpenter, was exposed to asbestos during his time as a carpenter and joiner at boat builders Wright & Sons on Cullingham Road, where he joined at age 14.

He worked at the business between 1955 and 1964.

An inquest into his death concluded he died as a result of an industrial disease.

Mr Fiddaman leaves behind two biological daughters, two granddaughters and two great granddaughtersDavid Fiddaman leaves behind two biological daughters, two granddaughters and two great granddaughters (Image: Submitted) Mr Fiddaman, who was passionate about trains, began to experience symptoms including breathlessness in September 2023 and following tests he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in October 2023 before dying at home on January 8, 2024.

He leaves behind two biological daughters Christina & Sharon, two granddaughters Melany & Lauren and two great granddaughters Margot & Ethel.

Following his death, his step-daughter Sandra Butcher, 67, and daughter Christina recruited Irwin Mitchell to investigate his illness.

Ms Butcher said: “My step-dad was my hero. He was a really wonderful man who was so skilled as a carpenter and joiner but who also loved his family and had a real caring streak running all the way through him.

“I still feel lost and devastated without him, but I’m so grateful to have had such an amazing and selfless person in my life and be able to say he was my step-dad.

Mr Fiddaman's daughter Christina, said the diagnosis "came from out of nowhere". 

She said: "No one deserves that and my caring dad certainly shouldn’t have had his life ended that way.

“I want to do something to honour dad’s memory and getting the truth about his asbestos exposure is something positive I can do. If anyone who remembers him or the firm he worked for could come forward, it would mean a lot to me. I can’t bring my dad back but I can see the truth come out for him.”

David Fiddaman was a lover of model trains and kept a large model railway in the garageDavid Fiddaman was a lover of model trains and kept a large model railway in the garage (Image: Submitted)

Anyone with information on David Fiddaman’s work history that would help his family is asked to contact Natalia Rushworth-White at Irwin Mitchell on natalia.rushworth-white@irwinmitchell.com or telephone: 01223 791 893.