Judith Hockaday

Judith Mary Hockaday (née Fitzsimons) (19 September 1929 – 24 May 2019) was a British neurologist who contributed to the development of paediatric neurology. She contributed extensively to understanding of childhood migraine, and was a founding member of the British Paediatric Neurology Association.

Early life and education Hockaday was born in Cardiff. Her parents were both Irish physicians: her mother a general practitioner and her father a surgeon. She was educataed at St Mary's Catholic School, Bishop's Stortford and Lady Margaret House, Cambridge. She was clinically trained at St Mary's Hospital, London.

Research and career Hockaday worked in general medicine at St Mary's Hospital, and as a house surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital. She was made an honorary registrar at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she researched migraine in childhood. She was awarded the British Migraine Association gold medal for research in 1977.

Selected publications Migraine in childhood; and other non-epileptic paroxysmal disorders. Electroencephalographic Change in Acute Cerebral Anoxia from Cardiac or Respiratory Arrest Basilar migraine in childhood Childhood mitochondrial myopathy with ophthalmoplegia

Awards and honours She was awarded Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom in 1955.

Personal life Hockaday had three children. She dedicated her retirement to gardening, botanical art, travelling and community work. Hocakday died of peritoneal carcinoma in 2019.