Middlesex Cricket is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Alan Ashton, long-time Middlesex member and dedicated administrator to both Middlesex County Cricket Club and the Seaxe Club.
Born in Boston, Lincolnshire, Alan, or Badger, as he was affectionately known, passed away last week, aged 89, and will be sorely missed by the many friends he leaves behind at both Middlesex Cricket and the Seaxe Club.
Alan had a lifelong passion for both cricket and football, growing up playing cricket as a youngster throughout his school days at Boston Grammar School and was an avid supporter of Boston United Football Club from a very young age.
He studied politics and economics at Nottingham University ahead of doing his National Service, before then joining the Sheffield Telegraph as a Junior Reporter and later as a Sub-Editor, and then joining the BBC as a Sub in the BBC Radio Newsroom at Broadcasting House.
He became Deputy Editor of the Today programme in 1977 and was later given custody of Newsbeat on BBC Radio 1, whilst always continuing to contribute lines to the Lincolnshire Standard and the Boston Guardian and sports reports to BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
In retirement Alan began a long association with Middlesex Cricket, serving in a number of administrative roles for Middlesex Cricket, on the Club’s Membership Committee and on the Club’s Main Committee for many years, whilst also being an active and popular member of the Seaxe Club, later serving as the Seaxe Club President. For 19 years he edited the Seaxe Club’s newsletter, the Seaxe News, as well as writing perfectly crafted match reports on all Middlesex matches for publication in the Club’s Annual Review, and editing the title itself in the early 2000’s.
Everyone at Middlesex Cricket is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Alan ‘Badger’ Ashton, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and many friends at this saddest of times.
