Friends mourn ‘fantastic’ Aaron

AARON ASHFORTH (centre) enjoying a drink with friends

TRIBUTES have been paid to a student and keen snowboarder who lived life to the full.

Former Royton and Crompton School pupil Aaron Ashforth (21) was found dead in bed at the home he shared with friends in Preston on Thursday, October 30.

He had been diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 18 and is thought to have suffered a seizure.

Aaron was studying forensic computing at the University of Central Lancashire and his degree will be awarded posthumously.

He was looking forward to fulfilling his childhood dream to visit Canada and had arranged to work and travel there for a year when he finished his studies.

Maxine Howard, of Smallbrook Road, Shaw, said her son had not let epilepsy hold him back. He had taken up snowboarding at university and had not suffered a fit since February.

The Oldham College support worker added: “He was the life and soul: karaoke king and quizmaster. At any party Aaron was the one who made everyone laugh. He loved dressing up for parties and had got his costume for Hallowe’en.

“He did not let the epilepsy hold him back and lived life to the full. He worked hard and he played hard.

“The one thing he had really wanted to do since he was eight was go to Canada and he was due to go next October when he had finished his degree.

“That’s the thing that hurts the most, he had been so excited about going to Canada.

“The big thing is to live life now because you do not know what is around the corner. That’s what he would have wanted — for people to live life like he did.”

Aaron leaves his father Stephen, step-father Simon Howard, sister Bethany, and brothers Stephen, Kieron and Liam.

The funeral will be held at East Crompton St James’s Church at 1.15pm on Wednesday and mourners are asked to wear something bright to celebrate his life.

Family have been comforted by the tributes to Aaron which have flooded into the social website Facebook.

Simon said: “We loved Aaron so much but we did not realise how much other people loved him. He was the most fantastic individual. Everybody who came into contact with him, he just brightened up their life. He fitted more into 21 years than many do into 60 or 70.”

Royton and Crompton head teacher Desmond Herlihy added: “The loss of Aaron Ashforth at such an early age is deeply tragic for his family and friends.

“Aaron had a very good academic record here. He was a talented sportsman who represented the school with much credit across a range of sports and teams.”