Funeral Notices

Condolence Messages

• 

  10/01/2026

  Angele Ann Andrews

  Dearest Uncle David, I didn't know you had passed away last summer but ironically I had been thinking of visiting you after completing my MA dissertation on Adult Education, which I've just handed in. If I carried on studying well into my sixties, it's partly because of your encouragement on the educational front when I was a teenager. I had been very proud of you; we all were and it was with great sadness that the news of your passing was received in our family. You may not have been aware that your namesake, my own son David Robin Andrews passed away a year and a half ago at only 31, from Arrythmia. Andrew and I were devasted. So was mum, who I know had been in touch with you up to some time back as you were both into genealogy. She was so sorry to dear of your passing, as was my sister, Tanya. I was taking my time to come and visit you for in my grief, I did not wish to bring sadness to your door but hoped to celebrate my appreciation of you. I think you know that now. Rest in peace, dear Uncle. Forever in my heart, Angie xxx

• 13/11/2025

  Nicola

  Dear David, thank you for being such a good friend to Chris who thought the world of you; he would come home with many a tale about your days at the college together and I know just how much he valued your friendship and support. You then reached out and offered the hand of friendship to me after Chris died, your support really helped after I moved to Teignmouth, hopefully you know how much your kindness and patience was appreciated, especially helping me to get and stay sober, every August 1st I will raise a glass of Ginger Cordial to you. Now you are reunited with your beloved Lulu and I hope enjoying lots of cuddles and hopefully not getting too many scratches! You are very much missed. Nicola.

• 

  09/09/2025

  David Selfe

  In memory of a dear friend and especially mentor, DPA was a giant in the field of gastronomy. He liked nothing better than the challenge of organising us "newbies" at Bournemouth (Lansdowne in year 1 followed by Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus in years 2 & 3 from 1972 to '75) to prepare regional dishes which, once ready, we would all sit down to enjoy and share together whilst reciting extracts from a manuscript indigenous to the region of the country, the food of which we had so lovingly prepared under his expert tutelage. He said it how it was and that was how he knew he could mould us to strive for excellence. I was fortunate to be given The Bahnhof Buffet, Basel, Switzerland in my first year. In '82, we were reunited in Plymouth when I became Catering Manager at the new Theatre Royal, thanks largely to DPA putting in a good word when my application was received. In the years that followed, I kept in touch from time to time. It was only a few years ago that he travelled to London for a meal at The Cavalry & Guards Club with the then Secretary, David Cowdery, one of his protégés from Bournemouth a couple of years prior to my arrival. The three Davids reminiscing about old times! (one of the 35 photographs here of the three of us on the day we renewed our acquaintance at the Club). You will remain a beacon for me, so thank you David Philip Ashen for everything you championed. Go well! Sincere condolences to Alex, Peter and their families. David Selfe

• 05/09/2025

  Joanne Collins

  Catering college in 1992 and as you told many I was the only student to call you by your first name, which you found very cheeky, then years later working for you and Alex at the restaurants, will never forget you laughing at Laura and the chocolate fountain. Since those times I will be eternally grateful for your friendship over many lunches, coffees and later fish and chips. Many conversations usually about food, politics and family. You were soo very proud of your growing family and spoke of them with great fondness and love, to all of you I send my heart felt condolences and love at this time. To me, well you have been many things, a mentor, friend, confidant, the list is endless. It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye and go well, love always Jo xx

• 02/09/2025

  Liz Lawson

  There are not many people you meet who actually change your life for the better and David was one of those people for me! I first met him when I was 16 years old; he interviewed me to attend the newly built catering college at Plymouth College of Further Education, as it was then. This could have been a humdrum course where we would end up in some average catering job at the end. Mr Ashen (as I called him then) had different ideas for his students. We were the first 16 students to exchange with a college in Arbois, France and the experience changed our lives. It taught us we could live and work away from home, learn to speak a foreign language and the world was out there for us to explore. He was a great believer in getting us out of the classroom to get real experience, our lecturers had worked in some of the best hotels and kitchens around the world and brought their knowledge and experience with them; not that I realised or appreciated any of this at 16! When I look back now the catering college under his leadership it was so forward thinking; it had a restaurant and bar which served the public every day and went on to have a bakery and brewery when these things were hardly professions people aspired to in the 1980's but now we all see artisan bakeries and micro breweries in all our towns and cities. David had a good relationship with my parents who ran a cook shop in Plymouth and I was fortunate to get know David again as an adult in the early noughties. When I started a food festival in Plymouth along with his close friend Jacques Marchal he was the first to volunteer to demonstrate on the chef stage, obviously he demonstrated a Cataplana to educate Plymouth in how to best steam muscles! As a teenager Mr Ashen was quite terrifying but the privilege of getting to know him as an adult was to know a warm and generous person who really cared. David's legacy for me is that he pushed all his students to be the best that they could be, not just settle for the ordinary but to try new things, to innovate and create to make everyone's life better. Thank you David.

• 

  30/08/2025

  Jean-Paul Krattinger

  I met David in 1984. I was looking for an English catering college with which we could exchange hotel and restaurant students to further their training (academic standards were insufficient, on the one hand, and I wanted to encourage them to be more mobile in a rapidly internationalizing world, on the other). A first attempt at working with Harlow (Essex) had not been successful. It was while I was accompanying a group of students on a trip to London that an offer from Plymouth, (supported by Jacques Marchal), arrived. I immediately traveled by train and met David for a few hours. We then laid the foundations for a cooperation that would culminate in a nine-month student exchange (five months in our respective colleges and host families and four months in renowned restaurants across the country). This first exchange was followed by meetings between the respective staffs in Arbois and Plymouth to design the training curriculum. Unfortunately, while the staff were enthusiastic, the French administration was less so. We (David and I)7 had to have a meeting in Paris, at the Ministry of National Education, to be authorized to launch this project. The financial battle was also tough and was only won with the help of the British Euro MP. In short, the project was born and worked so well that we decided to extend it to Germany with Saarbrücken and Holland with Tilburg. Arbois was not authorized to continue. Our regular cooperation and meetings with David turned into a relationship of friendship and mutual respect. After the end of our exchanges, and his retirement, we exchanged phone calls and especially text messages while our national rugby teams competed in the Six Nations Tournament ! David was specially proud of owning the largest Vin jaune cellar from Arbois in UK. Farewell David, you will always be remembered as a great man to my eyes. Jean-Paul Krattinger

• 29/08/2025

  William David Tyler

  I was a snivelling eight-year old, unaccustomed to the sudden English dampness. After listening to the wonderful collection of Maureen's film musicals, the hills were alive for me too. Phillip, David's father forgave my running nose, even at the dining table. He was kind, he listened, helped, and suggested, never criticised. I explored 'Oriel Cottage', with the old dilapidated, but cherished, Ford Popular in the garage that hadn't seen a road in years. The full sized billiard table covered in dust from spilled bags of ICI garden fertilizer. Phillip even allowed, and patiently helped me to start up the old 'Suffolk Colt' mower so that I could make myself useful and cut the grass, on the understanding that I avoided the mole holes ruining his lawn. That characteristic for nurturing and guiding others lived on. It was passed on to David and will still continue in others it has touched. Do, and will miss you. Love to family.

• 29/08/2025

  Helen milne

  I knew David for nearly 20yrs ...many chats as part of the 'Bagga Gang' every work day morning n so many chats / banter since......a Scouser n a Brummie made for many differing opinions! ......u were a character, David Ashen.....a life of many adventures......keep an eye out 4 us all on planet earth 😀 ....Go Well

• 29/08/2025

  William David Tyler

  Moist eyes and a deep ache that last. Enough to carve his stone and loss. To leave his mark upon this earth and heart. Go well.

• 28/08/2025

  jacques marchal

  Jacques Marchal I have known David (Mr Ashen)since 1974 when we open Chez Nous we did work together with having students from the college and of course sending some we employed it all led to the numerous exchanges in Europe especially Arbois I just find an article in devon to day august 2006 when i was cooking with David outside Joined Up Whiting it goes we were doubly proud that we got the michelin star when we had one knife and fork for comfort and location it was for the food alone David recall s a similar approach by Auguste Escoffier the legendary chef at the Ritz and Savoy at the turn of the century and the guiding light of all english haute cuisine of course we have our own frog here in Plymouth he adds flicking his eyes in slyly in Jacques direction what does Jacques call David in return? Mr Ashen he says his face poker straight at this point we ask them to look convivial for the camera!!! merci David for all the memories i will miss our frequents chats sinceres condoleances at toute la famille susan et jacques

• 

  27/08/2025

  Vince Falco

  Great summary Alex-your dad was so proud of all of his children. First time i met DPA, O Bearded One or occasionally Mr Blue Sky (after Jeff Lynne the Brummy from ELO), was in a Lecture theatre on Induction day at Bournemouth College of Technology at the lansdowne old site. He introduced himself as the Tutor for the A group destined for a European work placement. He then pointed to 3 of us and said 'get those beards off by Monday' . He called me either Mush or the WAP from Wapping; He taught the group Gastronomy and really knew his stuff- Eddy Tong was his Technician and top Demonstrator. So after first term he sent me to London Airport to cook staff meals for British Airways and then to the Baur Au Lac in Zurich in Bar & Restaurant- these were coveted placements i was later to learn. In the 2nd year I was sent to Manny Franks in the West End- a great restaurant entrepreneur- incredible experience.I told him i had to leave college at the end of the 2nd year as i had started a business and he spent a weekend end convincingme to stay and complete giving me fridays off informally to work the business,. He sent me work Placements when I was at the Royal Scot Hotel then asked me to visit him in Plymouth!! I ended up interviewing for his new hotel School yet to be built-7 years on I left Plymouth to run a section Cornwall College; he wasn't happy but gave me an amazing reference.We forged Educational links with Arbois in France; Saarbrucken in Germany etc Dave brought Helen Marshall , Eddy Tong and Me from Bournemouth as his protegees I think, worked us hard but was pleased he had- Helen later became Boss in his place!- So i've know DPA for 52 years as part Mush, Mentor, Employer, Colleague but always a friend- a great man who made me and who i will miss.

• 27/08/2025

  Jacquie Harris

  Mr Ashen to me, but 'Dave' to my late husband, Anthony Harris. We respected his knowledge of our industry, and his guidance. He became a normal person one day in our third year, when his car had broken down, and we were able to offer him a lift home from college in our student banger! A wonderful Course Tutor. Jacquie Harris

• 26/08/2025

  Alex Ashen

  Dad's favourite sayings to me: "Jamais les mains vides" , "Quand c'est noir c'est cuit" and "Never trust small men or cripples" (passed down from his father) Favourite story: Team tackling a very swift public school boy three-quarter (later played for England) who then exclaimed, "Oh sir! They've broken my dose!" Favourite meal ... Bacon and eggs Favourite music...Lark ascending Favourite film ... Blazing Saddles Favourite actor: James Mason Things he never did... visit McDonalds, drink coca cola, wear jeans, vote Labour (or Lib Dem , Green etc...obviously), smoke, drink instant coffee, eat margarine, back down if he thought he was right (which was pretty much most of the time). Dislikes: Anyone, or anything, that was anti - English. Likes: Cats, the works of P.G Wodehouse, Jewish humour, gastronomy, Assiette de fruits de mer, English strawberries, croissants (which are only any good in France) and good coffee. Heroes: Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Lady Thatcher, David Duckham, Jackie Mason. Things he changed his mind on - initially disliked... then warmed to The Fonz, Terry Wogan and sliced bread. My father didn't like to see the vulnerable being picked on or bullied. If he had it in his power to defend an underdog, then he would. If it meant blood-shed or later on, risking his career, he would still do it. He supported charities like the retired - Ghurkas and Smile because he felt that both sets of recipients had been unfairly treated. I never saw Dad drunk, and he only swore when something really upset him (the c- word was reserved for Alistair Campbell.) He worshipped cats and his grandchildren; and despite his no-nonsense approach to life, he could be a soft-hearted old buffer. But my father was a strong man with strong convictions - we loved him, admired him and we will miss him enormously. Alex

• 

  25/08/2025

  Josephine Phillips

  David's passing away will leave a large gap in the Ashen Family. As an older cousin he was full of good advice.He was very proud of his grand & great grand children., Sending love to his memory from Jo,Adrian & Family

• 

  24/08/2025

  Phil Hart

  I knew David as a work colleague who became a friend. We shared many thoughts and memories relating to his life and career. In our way, we reflected on past and current issues. In short, I think David's initiatives transformed many young people's lives. My sincere condolences to Alex, Peter and families.

• 23/08/2025

  Richard Ashen

  We will miss you David - your jolly 'phone calls and banter - not to mention the Family Tree (!) - may you Rest in Peace dear David - from Cousin Richard and Madeleine