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Ashley first experienced severe headaches as long ago as March 2010 and was diagnosed with an extremely rare pituitary adenoma in August that year.  He underwent emergency surgery later that month, but the then benign tumour proved very resistant to treatment.  Further courses of chemotherapy were similarly unsuccessful, and then another operation followed by 6 weeks of radiotherapy at a central London clinic was thought to have put the tumour into remission.  Sadly this respite did not last for very long, and by April 2013 the treatment options were quickly running out as the tumour became cancerous. 

On May 2nd that year Ashley was given the news at the Royal Marsden in Sutton that his life expectancy would not be very long; devastating news for anyone to receive. The treatment regime from that point on was purely palliative, and visits to hospital for yet more treatment became progressively more of a burden. At the end of January this year Ashley's condition deteriorated noticeably within a short space of time, and he was admitted to Kings College Hospital for another operation to save his sight.  The benefit was doubtful and unfortunately short-lived, and after a brief stay at the Royal Surrey in Guildford, he was transferred to Woking Hospice, where he died on April 29th, surrounded by his family.

Throughout all of this, Ashley did his best to stay bright and cheerful, but the horror of his condition was never far from mind. He was able to graduate from university with a diploma despite being unable to complete the course, and always looked forward to the occasions when he was well enough to go out with his friends and family, including as many trips to the pub, curry house and other restaurants as he could manage.  He was also able to follow his love of motorsport with days out at the touring car championships, and of course, aided by his friends and family, a fantastic trip to Monaco for the grand prix. Visits to Chelsea FC were also as frequent as possible, and his last trip for the Newcastle fixture was just before his 25th birthday on January 10th.

Ashley was cared for by his Mum throughout this long ordeal, and Dad undertook the driving duties to hospitals all over London and Surrey.  The whole family shared with him as many days out, treats and holidays as we could possible manage, all the time knowing that the next one could be the last.  Ashley was a kind, generous, intelligent and caring young man; a wonderful son and brother who simply should not have lost his life this way.  The staff at Woking Hospice were truly inspirational and amazing in the way that they cared for him in his last few weeks, allowing his family to be with him and love him as much as possible right up to the very end.  The Hospice needs public support and we urge you to make a donation if you possibly can.

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