A life member of BASH, Prof Fayyaz Ahmed from Hull who has dedicated his career to supporting people with headache and migraine has been recognised at this year’s Royal Garden Party.
Prof Ahmed was invited as recognition of his public service
Prof Ahmed, a consultant neurologist based at Hull Royal Infirmary and well-known to many BASH members, attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May in recognition of his public service.
He is also an honorary advisor with the British Association for the Study of Headache, treasurer of the International Headache Society and Ambassador for the The Migraine Trust and honorary Professor at Hull York Medical School and has made it his life’s work to promote research, to facilitate new treatments and to improve both public and professional understanding of headache and migraine.
His work has been in Hull and the UK but also internationally
Prof Ahmed has gone to great lengths to raise the profile of Hull nationally and internationally, working with neurology colleagues to organise and host the biennial Hull National Meeting on Headache in the city since 2005, attracting experts from across the globe.
A surprise in the post!
Professor Ahmed initially thought his daughter was joking when she said a letter had arrived for him from Buckingham Palace. In actual fact, it was his ticket to join this year's Royal Garden Party after being nominated by colleagues at Hull Hospitals.
"I was utterly astonished and wondered what I had I done to deserve such an honour from the King,” he said. After becoming a professor in 2020, I had already fulfilled all the aspirations of my professional life. I had even been elected to the International Headache Society, so receiving this invitation was beyond anything I had ever imagined; a major honour."
Arriving at Buckingham Palace by black cab, Professor Ahmed enjoyed two hours of entertainment, music, food and conversation in majestic garden surroundings.
A chance to meet members of the Royal family
He was able to shake hands with members of the Royal Family, including Prince William and Princess Kate, as well as Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. Professor Ahmed was also fortunate enough to meet Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and enjoy a chat about his clinical profession, how migraine runs in families and why women tend to suffer more than men.
Then there was time for some royal refreshments and a stroll around the lake and grounds of Buckingham Palace in the sunshine before the national anthem signified the close of the event; a day to remember, and one which has been well-earned by Professor Ahmed over a long and dedicated career.
I'm sure all of us in BASH congratulate him and are grateful for his amazing work.
Some final comments from Prof Ahmed
'The royal refreshments included sandwiches, cream cakes, and pastries, along with tea and cold drinks. The weather was beautiful — 23°C with sunshine — perfect for a garden party. After eating, I explored the Buckingham Palace lake and gardens. There were around 8,000 guests, but the garden was so vast that even double or triple the number could have easily fit.
The palace staff were extremely polite, sincere, and friendly, treating every guest with great respect and courtesy. Staff kept checking in frequently to see if anyone needed anything. After a while, everyone was also served ice cream cups.
At 6 p.m., the national anthem marked the end of the event. People calmly and in neat lines began exiting the palace. There was an impressive sense of order and discipline. Even though people didn’t know each other, they greeted one another as if they’d been acquainted for years.'
Prof Fayyaz Ahmed Sheikh
Blog by Hull Royal Infirmary Hospital staff and Dr Katy Munro
