Mr Aldoori's big trip to Buckingham Palace ended in tears and hugs - but not from his wife!

Our surgeon went to the Palace to see his wife collect an MBE and bumped into a former patient who told him: "I wouldn't be here if you hadn't saved my life."

Colin Blair, Huddersfield University's estates director, was there to receive the MBE for 27 years of service to higher education in Huddersfield. He was operated on by Mr Aldoori in 2000 after he was admitted as an emergencywith a perforated bowel as a result of Crohn's disease.

By sheer coincidence he was staying at the same hotel as Mr Aldoori whose wife Dr Nisreen Booya was also collecting her MBE that day from Prince William.

Colin has recounted the emotion of the chance encounter.

Mr Blair, said: "I was eating my breakfast when I looked up and saw him walk into the room. I recognised Mr Aldoori and went up to him and we had a proper hug. It was extremely emotional.

"We had used up a box of tissues crying before we even went to the Palace. I told Mr Aldoori 'You're the reason I'm here today'. Mr Aldoori had immediately identified my condition after I was admitted to HRI and carried out an emergency operation straight away. I can't thank him enough."