In the 1959 Birthday Honours, Ashton was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for political and public services, and it was as Sir Hubert Ashton that he became MCC president in 1960–61. Ashton died in South Weald, Essex on 17 June 1979.
In 1959, Ashton was recognized with the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his political and public service contributions. He later became president of the MCC in 1960–61 as Sir Hubert Ashton.  Ashton passed away in South Weald, Essex on June 17, 1979.