The widow of a retired teacher from Liverpool is suing the secondary school where her husband taught in the belief it contributed to his death.
Sheila Schofield, from Southport, believes her husband Brian was exposed to asbestos while teaching at Foxford School in Coventry.
Sheila, 72, is seeking compensation after Mr Schofield died aged 72 in July 2007, four months after being diagnosed with suspected mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
Grandmother-of-one Sheila believes his cancer was triggered by the presence of the deadly dust in the Longford school, where Brian worked for two-and-a-half years in his mid 30s.
She said: "It’s not about compensation, it’s about getting answers. I just want to know where his cancer came from so I can finally put this to rest."
Dad-of-two Brian taught maths and technical drawing at Foxford School in Grange Road from September 1969 to April 1972.
Mrs Schofield said: "He enjoyed his time at Foxford because teaching was his life."
Mr Schofield, who taught for 19 years before leaving the profession in the late 1970s, was diagnosed with cancer in March 2007.
His condition rapidly deteriorated and he died on 29th July.
A post-mortem examination confirmed Brian has been suffering from mesothelioma and investigations into the cause of the cancer revealed his exposure to asbestos at the Coventry school.
Widowed Sheila now fears hundreds of ex-pupils and teachers may be mesothelioma sufferers now and in the future as the cancer takes at least ten years to develop.
Sheila said: "I’ve learned to accept the fact he’s no longer here, but I’m really lonely and it’s still really hard.
"I just hope this will jog people’s memories of Brian and they will come forward to help, not just for us but the pupils and teachers at the school who develop mesothelioma in the future."
Foxford School headteacher Ruth Williamson confirmed that a claim had been made.
Joanne Waterson, solicitor for John Pickering and Partners LLP Solicitors in Liverpool, said: "Brian’s entirely avoidable death serves as a tragic reminder of the need for awareness of the presence of asbestos in our schools and the dangers this may pose to teachers and pupils.
"It is accepted that even low levels of exposure to asbestos dust can cause mesothelioma. It is essential that as many former pupils and teachers of Foxford School, particularly those who remember Brian or who attended the school at the same time, contact us.
"They may have crucial information which could assist Sheila Schofield in her fight for justice."
nick williams, brighton around 9 months, 3 weeks ago