Heartfelt tributes have been paid to a “devoted and passionate” doctor who dedicated his career to helping sick children.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Mohammad Rezaur Rahman from Willesborough, Ashford, died aged 69 at the William Harvey, the hospital he spent 23 years working at.

Despite suffering from his own ailments, the father-of-three and grandfather-of-five packed in the hours at work.

Dr Raham trained as a doctor in Karachi in Pakistan before moving to England in 1991 with wife Dr Samina Reza and their children.

Ashford has been the family’s home for about 25 years, and before that, they lived briefly lived in Margate.

“He was so passionate about paediatrics and treating sick children,” said his eldest daughter Dr Maria Reza.

“He was so dedicated to his career, he would work for hours on end typing up his clinic letters.

“He overbooked his clinics so he could see as many patients as possible, so they weren't left waiting.

“He was dedicated and devoted to his profession and inspired a generation of junior doctors.”

After a long career serving the NHS, Dr Rahman retired in November 2021 shortly after becoming a professor in paediatrics.

But it wasn't just medicine he was passionate about. He spent his free time volunteering for charities and community projects and even helped found Ashford Mosque in Torrington Road.

Dr Reza explained: “There wasn’t a mosque in Ashford but he was one of the founders. He did so much fundraising and volunteering to raise money for the mosque.

“He went door-to-door and on Islamic TV programmes.

“He was a great community leader and now it is an established mosque and a vibrant place for the community to come together.

“He was also a trustee and executive member of a charity called Share for Care which raises money to provide medical aid to underprivileged nations.”

At the beginning of this year, Dr Rahman was admitted to hospital with a spine infection.

Sadly, his health quickly deteriorated and after a seven-month battle, Dr Rahman died on July 14.

“In the last few weeks, his body was so weak but he faced his illnesses with such courage,” daughter Dr Reza added.

“I’m in awe of him. Never once did he complain.“

He was buried on July 15 at the Garden of Peace cemetery in London.

To honour his memory and keep his humanitarian work going, his daughters Maria, Sarah and Aemun are now raising funds in his name to support Al Mustafa Trust.

The charity works to build mosques in areas around the world where they are needed the most.

The charity can build a mosque serving 120 people for £7,000, a target the trio have set themselves to raise.

So far £5,254 has been donated.

A spokesperson from Ashford Mosque said: “Dr Rezaur Rehman has been a great asset not only as a doctor but a great human being.

“He was one of the founders of building a Mosque in Ashford with his hard work, dedication and great vision thus keeping all community united by creating a great platform for the Muslim community.

“He was an honest, disciplined, dedicated and devoted person and has left a huge gap behind.

“A gap which is very difficult to fill and will be missed and remembered for generations to come.”