The name of a former regional journalist who died from an asbestos-related cancer was amongst those beamed onto a cathedral to raise awareness of the illness.

Andy Parker, who worked as a deputy editor on Midlands title the Burton Mail until 2010, died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 58 after being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.

Andy’s name, along with the names of 122 other people who have lost their lives to the disease in the East Midlands, was projected onto Derby Cathedral as a tribute.

The names could be seen from dusk until 10pm every day for six days until 6 March and was organised by Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team  as a memorial to all those who have died of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Andy’s wife Sally said: “I said that it was okay to include Andy’s name on the list as I believe that anything that improves people’s knowledge of the disease is good.

“If the idea saves one life, it shows that it is obviously worth it.”

An official ceremony to begin the illumination tribute included a minute’s silence.

Before his journalism career Andy had worked as a labourer for a building firm in the early 70s and had been exposed to asbestos. This had caused a cancerous tumour of the lining of the lung and chest cavity.

Andy started with the Mail in the 1970s, returning in 1982 for almost three decades which saw him take on the role of deputy editor, before he left at the start of 2010 following a company restructure.

He was described as a ‘newsroom legend’ and ‘a newspaper man through and through’ by former colleagues following his death.

Picture: Derby Telegraph