Blazing a trail at Big Al's funeral

May 10 2007 By Graham Young, Birmingham Mail

FIREFIGHTERS were today set to provide guard of honour at the funeral for Birmingham actor Al Hunter Ashton, who has died aged 49.

Best known for playing Pitbull in fire drama London's Burning and Ray Grice in Crossroads, Al was also a BAFTA award-winning writer of TV films.

A former pupil of Hatchford Brook Junior School, Lyndon High School and Solihull College, the Blues fanatic died at home in High Wycombe on Friday, April 27 - the day before Steve Bruce's men sealed their promotion with a home win against Sheffield Wednesday.

His elder brother, Tony Hunter, said: "When Al was in High Wycombe he was consumed by work.

"But, as a season ticket holder, he would be consumed by Blues when he came back home most weekends to bring his children up to see their grandparents.

"Al was a larger-than-life character who lived twice the life of anybody."

Although he had been having heart tests, Tony said Al's death had still come as a shock to his family.

"When he was playing Ray in Crossroads they told him to put a bit of weight on.

"He did that but then found it hard to get off and he probably got more work by being bigger."

Al went to Manchester Polytechnic's School of Theatre and Television (1975-78), where Willy Russell and Dave Simpson were writers in residence.

The EastEnders' storylines he worked on included Dirty Den's adultery, Phil Mitchell being shot and Tiffany's death.

He would often write in the nude and his other TV hits included The Firm, Safe, Alive and Kicking, The Broker's Man and White Goods, a black comedy starring Lenny Henry.

In an interview six years ago, teetotal Al admitted his weight was 19 stone.

He said: " I'm a sugar addict. Chocolate, biscuits, I eat them all. Sixteen French Fancies is my record, I felt horrendous afterwards.

"I've tried that cabbage diet. And I lost two stone, but the weight's crept up again. May as well admit your problems, eh?"

Al is survived by his partner Ann and three children by his former wife, Sue - sons Michael, 20 and Jay, nine and daughter Dale 12.

His parents, Bill and Betty, still live in Solihull.

Donations in Al's memory will go to the Special Pool Appeal at Maplewood School. They should be sent to: Arnold Funeral Service, 891 London Road, Loudwate, High Wycombe. HP10 9TB. Tel: 01494 472572.

There's an online condolence book at www.alhunterashton.com

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