John Beckett died on April 14 after his condition deteriorated to the point where he struggled for every breath and was confined to a single room in his home. 

The 79-year-old, a retired plumber who lived at Thorpe Road, Norwich, was the husband of Marilyn Beckett. 

The court heard that he had previously worked as a pipe fitter at the Rowntree factory in Chapelfield, where he recalled being covered in dust and debris while airborne particles were present. 

The Rowntree factory began life as Caley's . It was eventually bought by Mackintosh and later merged with Rowntree. (Image: submitted)

The factory started manufacturing chocolate in 1883 but was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1942. 

It was rebuilt by Mackintosh and formally opened in 1956, merging with Rowntree 1969. 

Over the next to decades it reportedly produced 40 million Easter eggs annually alongside Rolos and Yorkie bars.  

The factory closed in 1996. 

The Rowntree factory started life as........

© Norwich Evening News