Tributes flood in

Described as 'a gentleman' by those who knew him, the late Mr Beresford-Ash was the patriarch of one of the oldest established families in Londonderry, and was a well-known figure about the City. The family's association with the City pre-dated the Siege of 1689.

A post mortem examination was carried out on the remains of Mr Beresford-Ash but the cause of death is as yet unclear.

A PSNI spokeswoman said yesterday: "Police are continuing to investigate this as a sudden death. A preliminary post mortem has taken place and we are awaiting the results of some further tests."

Among the first to pay tribute to Mr Beresford-Ash was William Lamrock, Secretary of the YMCA in Londonderry, who described the septuagenarian's death as 'sad'.

The YMCA grounds border the Beresford-Ash Estate and Mr Lamrock pointed out that Mr Beresford-Ash had always opened the grounds to people and particularly bridal parties who wanted to get photographs taken amid wonderful scenery.

"We have lost the head of that family and that is to be deeply regretted and very sad," Mr Lamrock said.

"He was a man who cared about his community and within his grounds was run a first-class education programme. Even when his home was attacked in the past he never closed his grounds to the community. Of course, his family also played a major part in local history, and Captain Thomas Ash's account of the Siege is probably the most authoritative document on that episode in our history," he said.

"It is sad to lose the head of the family like the Ashs, who had such a lot to do with documenting what took place in that great Siege in such glowing terms that the journal that was printed of Thomas Ash's accounts are very widely read. It is my favourite account of the Siege. I think it brings a lot of things into reality. A lot of the language used makes it clear it was a very painful time and it charts a lot of what the people went through," he said.

Mr Lamrock, a local expert on Siege history, said the journal was an important document as it provided a record of that took place and recorded the various politics that were played out and gave insight into the various pressure points that came about at that time.

"Even Thomas Ash talking about the closing of the Gates when the whole thing was wrestled from them and the Apprentices rushed forward and shut the gates, you get a great sense of the confusion that was there as this was all happening and these young men rushing forward to close them.

"He writes about whenever the City was saved as well. He said: 'Oh to hear the loud acclamations of the garrison soldiers around the walls when the ships came to the quay. O Lord who has preserved this City from the enemy I hope will always keep it to the Protestants.' Those were very striking words," he said.

Commenting on the Beresford-Ash family as neighbours, Mr Lamrock recalled how the stately home was attacked three or four times.

"Each time we would go over and see if there was anything we could assist and we were aware we were meeting an immensely proud man, who had fought flames to preserve his own home and the heritage that was in it. Even in those times when he could have surrounded the estate with a fence and blocked it off he refused to do that, and kept the place open. There was a very significant piece of community work done within Ashbrook that was carried out for some people who badly needed work done and John saw to it that this work was done. Never once through all the Troubles and all the threats and issues that developed around him he never closed himself off. He always kept himself, his family and his home accessible.

"How many people have had their wedding photographs taken in that home? He never closed it off to anyone, even in the worst day. He was a very outgoing man," he said.