A FORMER world record holder and champion powerboat racer was remembered at an inquest into his death.

George Kenneth Cassir, known as Ken, took up powerboat racing as it was said to be cheaper than Formula One.

Competing in offshore racing in Class 1 he won the 1977 Cowes Torquay Cowes powerboat race and the following April of 1978, in far from ideal conditions, he drove a new record of 92.16mph.

He triumphed after taking a chance on an innovative boat of a Class I Offshore catamaran, coined Yellowdrama III.

Cassir once said: “Yellowdrama III was built and was duly taken down to Poole to race. It was a hit of a failure; the steering was not strong enough to take the stresses of twin McLaren Chevrolet engines.

“But we persevered and put in new steering. But even then, we had various engine problems in the races leading up to the Cowes-Torquay-Cowes.”

It was his earlier life that is believed to have led to his death as he was part of the family company, Cassir and Co, working as a cotton trader.

Cassir, of Peach Hill Lane, Crawley, was diagnosed with mesothelioma – a form of cancer caused by asbestos – in 2017 after having already undergone treatment for another form of disease.

Despite years of therapy he died on June 6, this year, at the Countess of Brecknock Hospice, in Andover, aged 83.

An inquest into his death at Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that he would often travel to Peru and Columbia on ships, and it is understood that some of the ships were made out of asbestos.

Coroner Sarah Whitby was also told that Cassir “was one of the last to do national service”, assisting the Hong Kong Territorial Army, and again referred to the make up of the ships.

It was also mentioned that the family company was located in Liverpool Docks, which at the time were being pulled down, and the buildings could have contained the substance.

In tribute, his wife Anna Marie said: “He was diagnosed six years ago and given three months to live, his sheer force of personality that he dragged himself up every day. I think he thought if he didn’t acknowledge the fact that he had cancer he didn’t have it.

“Even the day before he died in the hospice he was drinking with his friend and he didn’t like the wine, so I had to bring him in some more.”

Coroner Ms Whitby concluded that the death was as a result of an industrial disease.