Bodleian cited in Keeper of Books’ death

♦ The Keeper of Scientific Books at Oxford University’s Bodleian Library may have been killed by asbestos at the famous building, an inquest was told yesterday.

Prof Dennis Shaw was working at the library during refurbishment work in the early Seventies and may have breathed in fibres. As his health deteriorated, Dr Shaw wrote to his family, telling what he believed had led to his death, mentioning the Bodleian, from which he retired in 1991.

Rosamund Rhodes-kemp, assistant coroner for Oxford, said the “correct conclusion” would be that he died from an industrial disease.

Prof Dennis Shaw, who passed away in July from the lung disease mesothelioma