Person Open DS/UK/16001 Ashton; Bill (6 December 1936); OBE; British saxophonist and composer Ashton Bill 6 December 1936 British saxophonist and composer Male (cisgender) William Michael Allingham Ashton DS/UK/1016 Blackpool, Lancashire, England (born)

British Musician; Saxophone / Composer White No known disability No known religious affiliation Unknown Bill Ashton OBE is a British saxophonist and composer, best known for co-founding the London Schools’ Orchestra, now the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), of which he is Musical Director. From 1955-57 Ashton was educated at Rossall School which soon developed into a career in the Royal Air Force doing National Service, before he then went to Oxford University in 1957, where he first began playing jazz professionally at functions and competitions, founding the Oxford University Big Band. On leaving university in 1960, he went to France and worked as a professional musician in the American army bases for about nine months. Returning to London, he did supply teaching, mostly French, and started to join various blues bands. After working with Red Bludd’s Bluesicians, he founded what became NYJO with Pat Evans and Mike Kershaw in 1965. Ashton is highly regarded as an indefatigable promoter of British jazz talent, by organising tours, producing recordings, encouraging established players to collaborate with the band and publishing the works of young jazz composers. Awards, Honours and Legacy: He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to jazz in 1978 and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours. Ashton has also received the BBC Radio 2 Jazz Award in 1995 for his Services to Jazz, a Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, and is a Fellow of Leeds College of Music. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Ashton_(jazz_musician) (2020) International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 Yes RAHSkeyte 5/6/2014 RAHAKirkbride 11/7/2022 5a90e6ed-2965-4b54-aa2a-d9e5cbbd5444