A RESPECTED trade unionist whose compassion and outgoing personality made him a natural for the role will receive his final farewell today.

Peter Langan remained fit and healthy well into his later years but died aged 88 last week from suspected exposure to asbestos, commonly known as the Swindon disease.

The condition is linked to exposure to the chemical in the town’s former railway works and car factories, where he worked for more than 30 years.

Peter, an active trade unionist all his working life, served as works convenor for the Transport and General Workers Union, now Unite, at the Pressed Steel car factory.

His daughter Maureen said: “My dad was a good mediator who, partly because of his Irish roots, was an excellent talker, with a special ability to engage with people.

“He had a great sense of humour and a good sense of fun, and loved to sing and dance at weddings.

“He also brought people together in the family and would be the person to go to if you needed help filling in a form or completing an application.”

Peter was brought up in the parish of Easkey, on the West coast of Ireland, and, like many of his countrymen, came to England looking for work in the 1940s.

He found steady employment in Swindon, first with the Great Western Railway, then in the 1960s with Pressed Steel, which was taken over by British Leyland before evolving into the Rover Group by the time he retired in the 1980s.

Peter had little in the way of formal education but was just as comfortable helping with a benefits claim as he was pushing for improvements in pay and conditions.

In recent years Peter developed lung fibrosis, causing shortness of breath and requiring home treatment with oxygen.

His case has been referred by the coroner for further investigation to ascertain the role asbestos played in his death.

Jim D’Avila, Unite’s regional officer, paid tribute to a union activist who was well respected by both his work colleagues and by management.

He described Peter as “one of those rare breed of trade unionists who combined a real compassion for the plight of his members with the ability to forcefully represent their interests and win workplace improvements through constructive negotiations.”

Recalling Peter’s work to tackle the very conditions that led to his terminal illness, he said: “All of us who worked with and knew Peter in the factory owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Peter, who lived in Gorse Hill, is survived by his widow Tess, his children Maureen, Peter and Jimmy, and by four grandchildren.

His funeral is due to take place at 11am today at St Mary’s Church, in Tovey Road.