Vale: Mick Aston

Time Team archaeologist Mick Aston has died aged 66.

Colleague Phil Harding said he had received the news from Professor Aston’s son James.

Time Team’s official Facebook announced: “It is with a very heavy heart that we’ve been informed that our dear colleague Mick Aston (pictured, left) has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Dr Harding said that although his friend had suffered health problems, learning of his death just two weeks after talking to him on the phone for the last time had come as a shock.

“It just seems so incredible, like a bad dream, but unfortunately this is no dream,” he said. “He was a seriously good mate and a seriously good archaeologist, a unique man. Everybody loved him, he just had a way with people. I cannot believe there was anybody who disliked him, he just had such a relaxed way.

“He had incredible knowledge and an effortless way of making archaeology accessible to people.”

Aston, always recognised for his colourful jumpers, joined the show in 1994 but acrimoniously quit last year when he accused the programme of dumbing down.

Source: Guardian