BSc Edin 1966, MB ChB 1969; MRCGP 1978; MSc 1988; MFPHM 1990.
After qualifying in Edinburgh Aston was house officer at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He then was appointed SHO at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and assistant Lecturer in Anatomy at Manch Univ. From 1990 Aston was consultant in communicable disease control for Bolton Health Authority. Aston was a fellow of Manchester Medical Society .