A COMMITTED campaigner who has fought for the rights of those suffering from asbestos-exposure has reluctantly decided to pass on the baton.

Originally from Portsmouth, Bob Pointer spent 14 years in the navy as an ordnance electrical artificer, during which time he met his wife-to-be Veronica and moved to her hometown of Barrow.

He started at the shipyard in 1985 and his experiences led to him spearheading the fight to represent and advise some of the tens of thousands of people in Barrow who had unwittingly been exposed to a cancer-causing killer - asbestos.

“It wasn’t really until about 2000 when it became clear that asbestos was causing health problems but everyone already knew. It’s a bit like when they finally linked smoking with cancer,” Mr Pointer said.

In 2005 Mr Pointer helped to set up the Cumbria Asbestos Related Disease Support (CARDS) group.

For the last decade Mr Pointer has selflessly battled to help those who have been affected by asbestos exposure but now, aged 70, he has been forced to retire.

As a result CARDS was under threat of closure but thanks to Blackpool-based charity Disability First the support group has been rescued and given a new title - Cumbria & Lancashire Asbestos Support Advice Group.

Graham Dring, chair of the Asbestos Victims Support Groups Forum UK said: “It is crucial that local people have access to independent, expert advice on benefits and compensation and ongoing support so the establishment of CLASAG is welcome news for victims of asbestos diseases and their families.”

Rachel Minshull, Barrow & Furness development officer for Cancer Care, said: “Bob’s commitment to CARDS and other asbestos related issues has been an eye opener for me. Not many would have continued doing so much on their own but he did, and he did a good job of it.”

Mr Pointer will now spend the rest of his retirement with his family including his two grandsons.

“Since our launch on the first Action Mesothelioma Day 2006, we have experienced setbacks, obstacles and time constraints, but we survived and I am really happy to hand the reins over to Disability First to ensure that the group thrives and expands its network of support,” he said.

Meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month at the Barrow & District Disability Association, School Street.

The official launch of the group will take place on January 21 at 1pm.