Regular readers will recall that 8 months ago we made an appeal to help us find Great Britain (GB) Munich Olympian Sheikh Mahmood Ahmad, or Joe as he is known to hockey. This was so that we could present him with his GB honours cap. We made extensive enquiries around the hockey world including his old club and the RAF for whom Joe also played.

We knew that when Joe finished his international career he left the Royal Air Force (RAF) and moved to the Middle East as a coach. There the trail went cold, hence our appeal through Hockey Shorts and on the Museum website. Several people contacted us but only with information that we knew. We were confident that he hadn’t returned to the UK, so where on earth was he?

Left: Sheikh Mahmood Ahmad (aka Joe Ahmad) representing Great Britain at the 1972 Olympic Games. Right: Joe Ahmad representing England at the European Championship 1970.

Well, the answer to that is that Joe remained in the Middle East until the 1990s. He then moved to Greece where he is still living. His son Arif, who was looking online for references to his Olympian father, came across Hockey Shorts (click here to sign up), told his dad and Joe phoned us.

An unknown number sprung up on our Hon. Curator’s phone. It said Corfu! “I believe you are looking for me” said the voice at the other end, to which our Hon. Curator responded, “You must be Joe Ahmad!?”

Joe was delighted. We are now trying to work out how we can set up a meaningful cap presentation – Corfu does present some logistical problems!

It was a definite wow moment because, after the call finished but with the line still open, Joe was heard to exclaim “Wow that was amazing!”

Joe Ahmad’s GB honours cap, which we now need to get meaningfully presented in Greece. Answers on a postcard…