'Asbestos cancer robbed my father from our family'

The family of Clive Houghton are launching legal action against BT as they claim he developed fatal asbestos-related cancer from working for the company

The family of a former BT engineer who died of an asbestos-related cancer say they "wouldn't like anyone to go through the same pain" as they call for former colleagues to come forward.

Clive Houghton, 91, from Worcester Park, Surrey, died in August after working as an electrical engineer for the telecoms company for 40 years.

Now, Mr Houghton's family say their husband and father was "robbed" from them and have notified BT of a legal claim against the company.

A BT Group spokesperson said it was "very sorry" to hear of Mr Houghton's passing and that it had received a legal claim from his family but declined to comment further.

Mr Houghton's widow Joyce, also 91, said: "He was so caring. I was his number one and he was mine.

"I watched him die and I wouldn't want anyone to go through a pain like that. It's awful."

Clive pictured during his time working for BT in the 1970s

Working as an electrical engineer between 1949 and 1989, cabling in some exchanges which Mr Houghton worked in were surrounded by bags of asbestos to prevent fire from spreading.

When these bags needed to be moved to install more cabling, powder from the bags would have been released into the air and caused Mr Houghton's health issues, his family say.

An inquest in September found that Mr Houghton died of sarcamatoid malignant mesothelioma of pleura – a form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos dust.

Mesothelioma, which develops in the lining of some of the body's organs, is incurable, typically does not cause symptoms for several decades and is "usually linked to asbestos exposure", according to the NHS.

Asbestos was widely used across the country until it was banned in 1999.

Avril Clark, Mr Houghton's daughter, and Mr Houghton's widow Joyce, say he was "robbed" from them.

Avril Clark, Mr Houghton's daughter who lives in Banstead and also worked for BT for nine years, added: "He should have been having a lovely old age and being able to decline gracefully rather than having a rapid onset of this cancer.

"It robbed the family of someone who was so important to us all."

Mr Houghton's are now urging anyone who worked with him who may have also been exposed to asbestos dust to come forward.

A BT spokesperson said: "We are very sorry to hear about the passing of Mr Houghton. We can confirm that we have received a legal claim from Mr Houghton's family which is ongoing and as such it would not be appropriate for us to comment further".