Bernard Ashley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bernard Albert Ashley 11 August 1926 |
| Died | 14 February 2009 (aged 82) Elan Valley, Rhayader, Wales |
| Resting place | St. John the Baptist Church, Carno, Powys |
| Education | Whitgift School[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, fashion designer, businessman |
| Years active | 1953–2009 |
| Known for | Fashion design |
| Title | Knight Bachelor (1987) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
| Website | elanbach.com |
Sir Bernard Albert Ashley (11 August 1926 – 14 February 2009) was an English businessman and engineer. He was the husband of Laura Ashley, and was her business partner from the founding of their fashion-textiles-centred business.
An engineer with a love of trains, planes and boats, Ashley was often portrayed in the media as a businessman instead of a designer – but he had a huge love of colour and design.
He had interests in Laura Ashley Holdings and the country-house hotel Llangoed Hall. Ranked 796th richest person in the UK with a fortune of £60m in fashion and hotels by the Sunday Times Rich List. He lived mainly in Brussels, but had houses in Hay-on-Wye and France.
Bernard Albert Ashley was born on 11 August 1926 and educated at Whitgift School, Croydon, developing an interest in engineering. He held a commission in the Royal Fusiliers from 1944 to 1946 and was seconded to the Gurkha Rifles in 1944–45. After the war he got a job in the City.