A TERMINALLY ill carpenter from Trowbridge says he is living every day like his last after being diagnosed with a fatal asbestos-related cancer brought on from working at a now-defunct Westbury building firm decades ago.

Michael Hill, 61, who lives in North Bradley with his wife Ann, was exposed to toxic dust at T Holdoway & Sons Ltd when he joined the business as an apprentice in 1971.

The father-of-three spent 10 years at the company before setting up his own business as a carpenter. It was only a few months ago he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

His wife Ann, 58, said: “He had a check-up at the doctors last year and he was fine. Then he started to get pains in his nipple which they thought was an infection and then it went to his rib which they gave him painkillers for.

“It was only when we went back again that they sent him for an x-ray and it came back to say that he had lung cancer. At first, I laughed because I thought it couldn’t be him, he’s so active. When we went to the hospital, I thought they were going to say they had made a mistake.”

Mr Hill worked at the MoD in Corsham with an agency but he had to leave when he became too ill to work.

He said: “Retirement is something you work hard for, a well-earned rest and time to do what you want to do. That time has been cut short for me and my wife and learning that came as a shock.

“What is important for me now, as well as spending time with those whom I love, is finding out how I came to be exposed to asbestos dust while I was at T Holdoway. At least that way my family and I will know why this has happened.”

While Mr Hill hasn’t been given a life expectancy timeline, he is hoping to walk his daughter Jess down the aisle at Christmas.

Mrs Hill added: “We have been told the chemotherapy is only biding us time and they can slow the cancer down but they can’t cure it.”

T Holdoway & Sons Ltd, established in 1947, was based in Eden Vale Road and had about 450 employees.

Irwin Mitchell solicitors is appealing for anyone who may have worked with Mr Hill to come forward with information on the working conditions at the company and are encouraging people to get checked by their GP.

Contact Isabelle Selley on 0117 926 1522 or email Isabelle.Selley@IrwinMitchell.com.