Paul, the younger son of Birmingham born Leslie Charles Ashton, a WWI veteran awarded the Military Cross for valour in northern France, graduate of Birmingham University and co-founder of Ashton and Moore, a brass finishing factory with premises originally situated in Tenby Street. Today Ashton and Moore, after years of trading in Legge Lane, remain trading at extended premises within the city. 

Paul Ashton had attended Oswestry School, prior to taking up a place to study geology at Southampton University. Graduating, he pursued academia gaining a PhD allowing him to join the elite team at the Sunbury Headquarters of British Petroleum. He became a brilliant geologist  involved in the discovery of gas and oil throughout the world, before the invention of the computer aided technology from which the profession benefits today. He loved his work which took him into various countries and in particular Africa where he witnessed first hand the provisions in rural communities of clean water, health care facilities, and the benefits of improvement of  standard of living, all being made available through employment and discovery of previously unknown mineral resources. 

Whenever work allowed, Paul loved to return to his roots, enjoying the culture of Birmingham which had made huge strides during his lifetime. He was descended from generations of brass founders and he was immensely proud of the city of his youth. 

After a lifetime of international work, Paul retired to Winchester in southern England just a few years ago, where he died. He was a son of Birmingham to be proud of, and will be sorely missed by many friends and colleagues throughout the world. He leaves a wife, a son from a previous marriage who lives in Birmingham, a daughter in New Zealand, and two grandchildren.