South Shields Sanddancers Forum

Yea, sounds impossible but that's what we all thought when the Gazette arrived on our mat that night with the headline 'Muhammed Ali to wed in Shields'. (It wasnt April 1st) As I recall, a local boxing promoter went to the USA and persuaded the world boxing heavyweight champ to come to Shields and open the Laygate Mosque, whilst at the same time Ali took his wedding vows there with his new bride ( a more official ceremony followed in the USA later). So Ali did turn up, and we couldnt believe our eyes - thousands cramming Laygate, and the national tv and press there too. What a day! Anyone else there who remembers?? A legendary day in the history of the town. (As I recall, the next idea was to try and get the Fonz to come on an open top bus, but that came to nothing)

yep big talking point in the town this visit was, me mates dad was on the open top bus with them as it went round shields and he took loads of official photos of the visit but sad to say he was looking for them to lend to me to show on here and has lost them all, what a sickner

..well, even Ali lost a few (Foreman,Frazier etc)...

LIVED IN TRINITY WALK AT THE TIME REMEMBER IT WELL ,PEOPLE COULDN'T EVEN GET ON THE BRIDGE NEXT 2 HIGH SHIELDS STATION REMEMBER THAT WELL

my Nana was at the mosque that day and there is photo's of her with him, has anyone got an idea were i can access them please.

I was one of those unlucky ones who had so many people in front of me trying to catch a glimpse of Ali I couldn't see him.

my nana was one of the really lucky ones she was acually with him inside the mosque and outside there is a load of photo's somewere but i cant seem to get them,the last time i saw one was in the gazette a few years back

I thought it was 1977

I remember now, I saw him on 16th July 1977, my daughter was born on 15th and I took my son aged 4 to register her birth and as we stood at the traffic lights at King St/Fowler St crossing, his open topped bus was at the lights and he shook his fist at us, in fun.

hi littleone, the photos of ali are on here
http://www.southshields-sanddancers.co. ... story4.htm