At Martello, we’ve been a little quieter than usual over the past couple of weeks. It didn’t feel right to carry on as normal without first pausing to acknowledge the devastating loss of Aaron Jones on the 23rd of December - our friend, colleague, and partner at Ashfield Solutions.
Aaron wasn’t just a respected flooding expert - he was one of those rare people who made an impression from the very first conversation. He had an infectious enthusiasm for his work, a sharp technical mind, and a knack for making complex topics feel simple and accessible. Even more importantly, he was kind, thoughtful, and warm—someone you genuinely looked forward to speaking with, whether it was to solve a technical challenge or just to share a laugh.
We worked closely with Aaron and continue to do so with the Ashfield team, and those partnerships have always felt more like friendships. All of us at Martello had the privilege of working with Aaron on projects, contributing in meetings, or chatting informally about shared challenges and ideas. For some of us, those conversations happened online; for others, they were in person. Either way, he had a unique way of connecting with people—no matter the setting, Aaron made time for everyone and always made them feel valued.
We’ll all remember moments that made Aaron so approachable. His passing has hit everyone hard, and we know we’re not alone in feeling this way. In the weeks since his passing, we’ve been supporting our colleagues at Ashfield however we can. As we start the new year, we’ll continue to support the team in whatever way they need - and, most importantly, we’ll keep remembering Aaron for the smart, funny, and deeply good person he was.
We will miss the hands-free phone calls while Aaron was driving, and the laughs on those calls. We’ll even miss the repeated exploding-toilet image that he always had on hand to prove a point. That image is implanted in many people’s minds forever. That was Aaron, though: pragmatic, endlessly curious, always ready for a laugh, and always keeping things in perspective.
For those who knew Aaron or worked alongside him, we’d encourage you to take a moment to reflect on his impact—not just professionally but personally. He was someone who left things better than he found them, and we’ll do our best to carry that same spirit forward in his memory.
If you would like to leave your own tribute, then Aaron has an online obiturary which allows tributes, and is raising money in memory of Aaron for Sandy Bear Children's Bereavement Charity here.
From all of us at Martello, our hearts go out to Aaron’s wife, children, family, friends, and the entire Ashfield team.