A FORMER Mayor of Eastwood died from a disease she contracted through washing her husband's asbestos-caked clothes, an inquest heard.

June Yeomans, 72, had mesothelioma – a rare cancer affecting her abdomen – caused by breathing in dust from the overalls worn by her husband, David.

Mr Yeomans, 75, worked for British Rail for 25 years as a fitter and turner.

He repaired engines, parts of which contained both white and blue asbestos, the latter of which is extremely hazardous if its fibres are inhaled.

Mrs Yeomans died at her home on Brookhill Leys Road, Eastwood, on July 31, after a 10-month battle with cancer.

A Nottingham inquest on Tuesday was told she had no exposure to asbestos in her career as a school teacher.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Notts Coroner Dr Nigel Chapman said: "We know that she had a cancer and died of an asbestos-related disease.

"She has not developed it whilst at work but through washing her husband's clothes."

Mrs Yeoman's eldest son, Tim, said afterwards his mother must have breathed in the dust more than 30 years ago.

His father, who is still alive, left the rail industry in the 1970s.

He went on to form pet food manufacturing firm Yeomans Meat Company Ltd.

The company and the family moved from Derby to Eastwood about 25 years ago.

Mrs Yeomans soon became an active member of the community, serving on Eastwood Town Council for 11 years. She was made Mayor in 1999 and was deputy Mayor twice.

Mr Yeomans, 50, said his mother's death would be "a huge loss" to the family and the local community.

"Family was very important to mum," he said.

"She was the linchpin of the family – the strength behind our relationships.

"She was a great believer in family, and extended that belief into the wider community."

Mrs Yeomans was heavily involved at St Mary's Church in Eastwood and became governor of Lyncroft Primary School.

She was also chairwoman of the Scargill Walk Community Centre and helped run the Eastwood People's Initiative – a drop-in centre for local people in need.

Illness forced Mrs Yeomans to retire from the role in December last year after 15 years.

Mr Yeomans said: "Mum was involved in pretty much everything good happening in Eastwood.

"Her work brought her great satisfaction. The older she got, the more involved she became with the community."

Describing his mother's illness, he said: "Mum developed back and shoulder pains and thought she'd just overdone it.

"But she went to the doctors and was diagnosed with cancer.

"Initially, they could not find the cause. It was only in the last couple of months that doctors managed to track it down as asbestos-related cancer in the abdomen. It came as a complete shock and a mystery to us.

"We've been racking our brains and realised that it must have been through washing father's clothes."

Mrs Yeomans is survived by her husband of 54 years, their three children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral service is being held at St Mary's Church, in Church Street, Eastwood, tomorrow at 1pm. All are welcome.

bryan.henesey@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk