Charity tribute to former RAF pilot killed in jet crash
A former RAF pilot who raised thousands of pounds for Whiteleys Retreat has died after a jet crash over mountains in Italy.
Tragic Dave Ashley, 49, was flying on a training exercise in a Leonardo M-346 type jet that went down near the Colico (Monte Legnone), between Como and Lecco in Northern Italy last Wednesday. Both pilots ejected but sadly mercy crews found Dave dead at the crash site.
Ayrshire business chief Dave previously lived in Prestwick with his Scots wife, Heather Ashley, and their sons, Finn and Harvey.
The family moved to Dorset but both Dave and Heather continued to run their property investment firm Ashley Property Group, registered in Prestwick.
Maxine
Allan, CEO at Whiteleys
Retreat,paid an emotional tribute to the super fit pilot who regularly donned Whiteleys iconic owl logo whilst taking on enduring challenges in aid of the Alloway respite facility.
Just last year Dave took on a middledistance triathlon in Aberfeldy swimming 1900m across a loch and a 90k hilly cycle finishing with a half marathon, near Aberfeldy. His heroic efforts helped raise £1,200 for the charity who help children with life-limiting illness and their
families.
A statement from Maxine said: “With a heavy heart we announce the tragic passing of a loyal supporter of the charity and extremely close friend – Dave Ashley. Dave, a director of the Ashley Property Group (one of our charity partners), and a fighter jet pilot, was involved in a military training crash.
“Both pilots were forced to eject. Sadly, Dave did not survive. We are all devastated and send our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to his loving wife Heather and his two sons, Finn and Harvey.
A statement from Leonardo reads: “Leonardo’s Top Management express their most heartfelt condolences for the loss of the pilot.
“His name was Dave Ashley, a married 49-year-old father of two children. Deepest sympathies are with his family.”