Denis Melody, 84, a divorced father-of-two, was a former leather processing manager who worked until he was 77.

Mr Melody was still taking part in rowing competitions until September 2006. He was fit and healthy until he developed chest problems and was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal condition. He died in January at the Wortley nursing home where he spent his final months.

The inquest heard Mr Melody spent his entire working life in the leather processing industry often in old factories and around machinery lagged with asbestos. He also served with the Royal Marines and could also have been in contact with asbestos on ships.

A well-known marathon runner, Mr Melody took part in many races before taking up indoor rowing at the age of 77. He went on to take part in British and world championships, winning a gold medal in the men's veteran class in the world championships in America at 80. He was accompanied at the time by Olympic gold medallist Sir Steven Redgrave.
Mr Melody did all his training at Armley Leisure Centre and raised thousands for cancer charities.

The coroner, David Hinchliff told the court: "Mr Melody spent many years working in factories where machinery and boilers were lagged with asbestos and the likelihood was that it was in the work place he was exposed to it. In those days workers did not realise that fibres from asbestos caused health problems in later years and he developed mesothelioma."

Pathologist Dr Lisa Barker told the court Mr Melody had well above the normal amount of asbestos in his lungs and had developed a rare type of tumour as a consequence.

The corner recorded a verdict of industrial disease.