John Rowland Ashton

John R. Ashton, MBE, (1917-2008) was an English writer, lecturer, local historian and educationist whose career blossomed in Sweden. He was the former Chairman of the "British Factory". He resided in Gothenburg, Sweden with his Swedish wife Torborg.

Biography

John R. Ashton was born in Manchester, England in 1917. In his early life he studied law in London. He was employed by the Gothenburg Education Authority as English language teaching consultant in 1952, a post he held until 1982. During this time he co-authored several English language teaching series, published in Sweden and Norway. He also edited English texts for older students in Sweden, Germany and Holland. In 1957 he pioneered an English language teaching series on local television which he wrote and presented. He has also been active in the social life of the British community in Gothenburg being the vice-chairman of the English school 1960 – 1979 and a member of the English Church (St. Andrew’s) Council 1974 – 1998. He was elected a member of the ancient British Factory in 1980 and soon became chairman. He was awarded the MBE in 1979.

John Ashton passed away in Gothenburg, April 28th 2008.

Bibliography

English language teaching series

*1957 "Out and About" - A three-year course for pupils aged 13-16. Published in Sweden
*1962 "Hands Up!", a three-year course for beginners. Published in Sweden and Norway.
*1975 "Contact" - a three-year course for pupils aged 13-16. Published in Norway.

History

*1997 "A Short History of the English Church in Gothenburg" 1749 – 1997
*2003 "Lives and Livelihoods in Little London"; "The Story of the British in Gothenburg 1621 – 2001". The book tells the fascinating story of why the British settled in Gothenburg and how a number of English and Scottish merchant families have contributed to the economic and cultural development of the city. Trade across the North Sea, especially in iron-bars and timber, has for nearly three hundred years been of vast importance in the growth of the port of Gothenburg. The influence of this trade on the commercial and social life of Gothenburg is reflected in that the city is sometimes called "Little London".
The story of the lives and livelihoods of members of the Carnegie, William Chalmers
Chalmers, Chapman, Dickson, John Hall, Gibson and Keiller families – to name but a few – is told against a backdrop of major historical events in Europe. And that the influence of these families was positive and strong is indicated by the naming of streets in the city after them.