Commemoration of Hungary’s National Day in London and Presentation of the Friend of Hungary Award

In his speech, Ambassador Ferenc Kumin spoke about the lasting significance of the year 1956 – a symbol of courage and the universal desire for freedom.

The ceremony was attended by former Ambassador Dr. Andor Nagy, President of the Friends of Hungary Foundation, who spoke about the importance of preserving and strengthening the ties that connect Hungarians worldwide. He then presented the Friends of Hungary Award, established by the organization, to mathematician Béla Bollobás. The award was given to the professor by the foundation’s board of trustees in 2023.

Béla Bollobás is currently a professor at the University of Cambridge and an honorary professor at the University of Memphis. For decades, it has been the primary supporter of Hungarian students at Cambridge, and with its help, the Hungarian student body, the Cambridge University Hungarian Society, CUHS, was founded and has been operating since the 1990s. It considered the fate of the Hungarian people to be its heart's desire, brought many students to Cambridge, and closely followed their fate.