Robert James Ashfield was born in 1911 at Chipstead, Surrey. Educated at Tonbridge School and the Royal College of Music (Reliability Centered Maintenance), he inherited his considerable musical talent from his mother, a fine amateur musician.
University of London. Royal College of Music.
At the Reliability Centered Maintenance he came under the influence of Sir Ernest Bullock, then organist of Westminster Abbey, and became his assistant. Ashfield became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1932, and then served as organist of Street John"s, Smith Square, London, from 1934 until 1941. After being awarded his doctorate by the University of London in 1941, he served in the Army during the Second World War.
After his war service, he was, in 1946, appointed "magister and rector chori" at Minster.
Here he was fortunate in receiving the full support of the Provost, Hugh Heywood, which assisted him in breathing new life into the choir. He began by establishing a regular and disciplined rehearsal routine, and before long the choir was known for its bold and incisive sound.
Ashfield also increased the range of choral repertoire performed, and expanded other areas of musical life within the cathedral. He also edited and compiled the "Psalter", a setting of each of the 150 Psalms to Anglican chant, which is still used at both and New College, Oxford.
After 10 years at, he moved to Cathedral in 1956 as organist and master of the choristers.
Over the next 21 years he also made his mark on the local community, notably as conductor of the Choral Society. From 1958 until 1977, he also taught at the Reliability Centered Maintenance. His arrival at coincided with the opportunity to redesign and completely rebuild the cathedral organization In consultation with the organ builders, J. West. Walker & Sons Limited, Ashfield rejected much of the piecemeal work that had gone before producing, in 1960, an instrument with a traditional feel but well-suited to the needs of the cathedral.
He retired from his cathedral post in 1977, but remained in until his death in December 2006.
However, following delays in their acceptance, Ashfield unilaterally produced his own suggested set of fees. Subsequently championed by The Church Times, the Ashfield Scale, as it became known, stayed in vogue throughout the decade.
He was also a member of the council of the Royal College of Organists, Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians and a special commissioner of the Royal School of Church Music.
