IT has been more than 13 years since entertainer Roy Castle lost his life to lung cancer. He spent his last few months raising money for the world's first dedicated lung cancer research centre, completing his 1,200 mile Tour of Hope just weeks before he died at the age of 61.

Afterwards, his widow Fiona threw herself into the cause. Although she withdrew her support from the Liverpool-based Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation eight years ago, she was delighted to accept an invitation to officially open the Royal Bournemouth Hospital's Acute Lung Unit.

She has many happy memories of Dorset, where she, Roy, and their four children used to have a five-bedroomed holiday home near Branksome Chine.

"We had this dreadful old house, a ramshackle wreck of a place. It was wonderful because it didn't matter. We used to have church youth groups coming down for weekends or for a week's holiday," she recalled.

"The most I catered for was 32, but generally it was never fewer than 16. We had a massive room at the top with mattresses, and people would sleep on them in sleeping bags. We could get ten or 12 people in that room.

"I would love to move back to the area: I've talked about it with the family. I'm president of Moorlands Bible College in Christchurch and will use any excuse to come down."

Fiona was a dancer and singer when she was introduced to Roy by their mutual friend, comedian Eric Morecambe. The couple married in 1963 and their children were born between 1965 and 1973.

Roy was an all-round entertainer, who acted, sang, danced and played musical instruments. He is probably best remembered for his long stint as presenter of the popular BBC children's television programme Record Breakers.

Although he never smoked, years of playing his trumpet in smoky clubs took their toll. He faced his diagnosis with courage, using his high profile to campaign and raise money. He died only 27 days before what would have been his and Fiona's 31st wedding anniversary. A year later, Fiona also lost her brother to smoking-related cancer of the oesophagus.

She describes Roy's loss as "the most traumatic event of my life", but found strength in her Christian faith and continuing the work he had started.

"It's not something that I would have ever chosen to be interested in, but it's amazing how, out of something pretty grim, so much good has happened, which has been brilliant," she reflected.

Fiona plays down her role in changing people's attitudes, which paved the way for the introduction of the smoking ban in workplaces and enclosed public places in England last July. "I was just one little voice in many."

She added: "It's amazing. Last October, I was working in Uganda and flew via Amsterdam airport, which isn't smoke-free. I suddenly realised how awful it is, and how wonderful it is to be in a smoke-free environment."

Now 68, she is still very involved with Cancer Research UK and travels the country to help spread the message.

"I thought the job was done when we got the smoking ban. Children in primary schools all know the dangers of smoking, but something happens in secondary education. They think it's cool.

"I remember hearing one university student on television saying: I smoke, I'm all right. If I get lung cancer I'll give up'."

While in Bournemouth, she also looked around the new unit, built with the help of a generous donation from the Bournemouth Chest Diseases Charitable Trust. It gives breathing support and specialist nursing care to patients with lung failure.