November 17th, 2006

Rank Film Productions, the movie production company that has produced a wide range of popular blockbusters including Bond movies, is being sued by the widow of a British man who died from lung cancer earlier this year. His widow claims that he contracted cancer as a result of the work he did at the studios when a number of Bond films were being filmed.

Ronald Sharp was 59 years old when he died this year from the deadly cancer. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked at the movie studios painting the sets for a number of classic Bond movies. This was at Pinewood Studios in London, and his widow, Barbara, alleges that as part of his job he was exposed to insulator asbestos.

Barbara Sharpe is seeking around 150 GBP in damages as part of the lawsuit. She said that her husband’s life was significantly shortened as a result of the work that he did due to the exposure that he suffered at this time. "My husband lost 18 years of his life because of Rank's negligence in exposing him to asbestos."

Among the movies that he painted sets for at the studios were ‘You Only Live Twice’, ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’, and ‘Diamonds are Forever’.