a new textile company named Elanbach and requested that daughter Emma Shuckburgh (née Ashley) act as its creative director. Named after Emma's home in the Elan Valley near Rhayader, it is based at Sir Bernard's five-star hotel, Llangoed Hall, near Brecon, and was to be sold in shops in London and Paris. Emma admitted to the BBC that she was surprised to be asked by her father: It's very exciting. It's a realisation of a dream. I kept thinking my father would say "I have changed my mind. I was joking." He hasn't said no to anything, so it's all going in the shops. Having grown up watching her mother design, Emma says the job simply comes naturally to her: I did my first dress design for Laura Ashley when I was 14, I was complaining there was nothing I could wear. She said, "right, just design some stuff then." I don't feel I have to live up to some great thing at all. The company launched its first shop in Hay-on-Wye in 2001, and included designs from Emma's daughter, Rose. Ashley houses Sir Bernard Ashley bought Llangoed Hall, seeing it as the place where he could fulfill his ambition to recreate the atmosphere of an Edwardian house party. He later replicated this in other locations, but sold the two American properties in 1999 to Orient-Express Hotels, renamed as Belmond Ltd. in 2014. Keswick Hall – in Charlottesville, Virginia – sold in 1999 to Orient-Express Hotels. Llangoed Hall – near Brecon, Powys. Purchased 1987, now a hotel and the base for Elanbach. Inn at Perry Cabin hotel, in Talbot County, Maryland – sold in 1999 to Orient-Express Hotels. Personal life Laura and Sir Bernard were married from 1949 until her death in 1985. Laura had four children, the expansion of the business meant the need for an escape point, and for creativity. They bought a house in France in the early 1970s, and kept in touch with the family and business through flying, with Sir Bernard's accomplished skills as a pilot. The Ashley children were all involved in the business. David (born 1954/55), the eldest son, designed and opened 182 shops across America, daughter Jane was the company photographer; youngest daughter Emma designed textiles and their second son, Nick, was design director for Laura Ashley during its successful flotation in 1985. Nick went on to launch his own brand Nick