You are quite right, Micky. Ash limbs are very brittle and are easily broken in a gale. We have a large tree in the garden. From my own experience branches tend to die off quite regularly but can stay attached to the tree for several years. Then, in a good wind these can detach and fall to the ground. It is less usual for live branches to fall but it can happen.
A good boy scout would not set up his tent under any tree: rain dripping off, bird droppings, dead wood, etc etc!

You don't pitch a tent under trees of any sort, they can be struck by lightening and it can cause damage to the roots, also there may be damage to your canvas/material due to falling branches and excreta. You need to tent in the open for light and air. If you have a tree near to a house branches can damage the building, roots, drains and foundations. All large trees will have their branches broken in windy weather or gales. I have known very large branches of Oak trees to snap off on a very hot day with no wind.

Sorry Bulbaholic we posted at the same time.

;-)

Bulbaholic's right - Ash trees are known to drop bits or limbs in high winds, and sometimes just anyway. Robinia is another tree that can drop branches in high winds.

Yes, Micky - we've had branches down from our old weeping ash. It is not a good idea to linger under it in a gale!

Lots of people refer to Ash as a 'weed' tree, but it's a very good tree for timber. It makes excellent firewood for the open fire and is so quick growing.
Depending how large your tree is, I would think judicious pruning and removal of diseased wood and over-heavy branches would keep it safe.

Our tree surgeon casts his eye over ours regularly. He's had to remove rotting branches twice, and tidy it up after a storm ripped off a very large branch.