Ashley Hutchings news

[quodlibet (Ian)]

Message from Blair on FB

"Health update regarding Ashley:
Unfortunately, Ashley has suffered a stroke. It occurred a few weeks ago, and he has since been looked after at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, on the Eastwood Ward. They've been absolutely brilliant, we can't thank them enough.
While it's impossible to get a completely accurate prognosis, given the complex nature of strokes and how they affect people in different ways, we can say that Ashley will be withdrawing from public life for the foreseeable future. He does, however, remain in good spirits, and alarmingly positive about England's chances at the World Cup...
Given the circumstances, Ashley won't be appearing at Sidmouth Folk Festival next month, or with the Albion Xmas Band in December.
Once again, we would like to thank the staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, they are true heroes.
Much love to you all, from me and Dad,
Blair x"

[Nick Reg]

Message from Blair on FB

"Health update regarding Ashley:
Unfortunately, Ashley has suffered a stroke. It occurred a few weeks ago, and he has since been looked after at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, on the Eastwood Ward. They've been absolutely brilliant, we can't thank them enough.
While it's impossible to get a completely accurate prognosis, given the complex nature of strokes and how they affect people in different ways, we can say that Ashley will be withdrawing from public life for the foreseeable future. He does, however, remain in good spirits, and alarmingly positive about England's chances at the World Cup...
Given the circumstances, Ashley won't be appearing at Sidmouth Folk Festival next month, or with the Albion Xmas Band in December.
Once again, we would like to thank the staff at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, they are true heroes.
Much love to you all, from me and Dad,
Blair x"

Oh heck. Sending our love and best wishes

[davidmjs]

This is desperately sad news.  I do hope Ashley manages to regain some health and is able to enjoy his remaining days.  If that eventually involves making some music then all the better.

I feel so privileged to have gone (on a very generous freebie) to his 80th birthday bash last year which was awesome.

[Jules Gray]

Sad news. All love and strength to Ashley and the Hutchings clan.

Jules

[Will S]

Sad news indeed. The 80th birthday do was a good celebration (anyone heard any more about the possible release of it?), and we also saw him with Blair on a mini-tour, but it was already clear it wasn't going to be playing much in the future.  Hope he is able to make a good recovery though.

[Dan O.]

Sad news - fingers crossed for his recovery.

Very fortunate (with a few other members of this parish) to have seen Ashley's epic 80th Birthday concert in Birmingham last year, and to have caught him one last time in a duo gig with Blair at King's Place, London, in June.

The gig at King's Place was more of a Q&A than a gig, the guys played some traditional material, some Dylan, some Leonard Cohen, some of Blair's originals and regaled the audience with tales of Jimi Hendrix jamming with Fairport at the Speakeasy club, also revealing that the poet Philip Larkin considered Fairport Convention the only rock group worth listening to...