Local History

Muhammad Ali's convoy

In 1977, the year of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, Muhammad Ali and his new wife Veronica, attended the South Shields Mosque with their baby daughter Hana, to have their wedding blessed by the Imam.

The Yemeni community in South Shields is one of the oldest Arab and Muslim communities in the UK, and this film looks at an emerging Arab/British identity.

The visit of Muhammad Ali, as probably the highest profile Muslim in the world, had a life-changing effect on the Yemeni community in South Shields.

Ali on his way to South Shields Mosque

For almost two years, South Shields based film-maker, Tina Gharavi interviewed people who Ali met on his visit to South Tyneside 1977.

1977 was also the Queen's Silver Jubilee, with the nation and commonwealth enjoying a heightened state of patriotism.

In the King of South Shields, Tina explored the impact of Ali's visit, his acknowledgement of one of the UK's oldest Muslim communities and what his visit meant to their lives, faith and sense of identity.

Using rare archive news and Super-8 footage, the film looks at the effect Ali's visit had, examining how the Arab community has successfully integrated into the region.

South Shields' Muslims welcome Ali

The film also includes dramatic re-enactments, improvised drama and animation to tell the story in a more evocative and challenging way.

The King of South Shields is not a big film but an increasingly relevant one.

*Tina Gharavi is a Lecturer at the University of Newcastle in the Department of English Literature, Language & Linguistics, and is particularly interested in hearing from members of South Shields Yemeni community and their families about Ali’s visit.

Joanne Laing
I was 8 at the time and can remember my Dad taking me, my sister and my Mum to see Ali while he was travelling on the open-top bus. My Dad was raised inSouth Shields and knew the route that the bus would be taking. I can remember watching the local news regarding Ali's visit and how he boxed with the boys and kissed the girls. Ali was a great showman and had a wonderful respect for his fans. On a seperate note, I was watching the programme "Coast" which highlighted the Yemen-Arab arrival to South Shields and realised my Grandma once spoke to me about how there had been trouble but her family had not had any problems with the Arab Yemen's, in fact her father who was a carpenter/joiner had worked on the Mosque in South Shields whilst it was being built.

Lynn King
Mohammed Ali visited teh Fairground where my father Keith Bell was boxing. He even got in the ring but thankfully did not fight. I was 7 at the time but remember it like it was yesterday

Ruth A
Go to South Shields Museum & Art Gallery its full of interesting stuff about the South Tyneside area!

A jealous mackem
After having a random conversation with me mam, i not only found out that ali was indeed in sand dancer land but she did the maids hair before the blessing!

alan pearson
when ali visited south shields i was with my mate, billy laidler, there was so many people there that u could see the roads or foot paths, i can remembering it being one of the most exciting days in my life. he was and is a great man.

Steven Jones
I live in Jarrow just before south shields and i was 13 years old when i was running along the open top bus at jarrow on his way to shields,i would love to see any old photos of that visit, not many people can say they had the greatest boxer of all time in there town.He had his belt up in the air and people would shout Ali Ali Ali great memories. Thanks Steve

Nadeem Ahmad
I had the pleasure of looking after his daughter at the then Newcastle Moque while he was meeting people . His first point of arrival was the Newcastle Mosque before he went to S.Shields to have his marriage blessed in a 'purpose-built' Mosque followed by his evening reception at the Gosforth Park which was attended by by late father Dr.Ahmad I still have his wedding invite signed by both him and his wife at the the time Veronica Ali. People tend to forget the drivers behind this visit but the main person who was behind this was the than Secereatary of Pakistan Muslim Association, Mr Mirza. Cheers Nadeem

Steve Winn
I remember that day vividly. I was invited by a friend who's wife worked at Pendower Hall Special School, where he visited, he was such a Gentle person for his size, he towered over all the people there. He was just fantastic with the Children. What a Gentleman and Great Human being. He was the Greatest.

keith bell
Muhammad Ali said "i want that man" and i did a little sparring with him on his visit to the fairground boxing booth, there were photographs in the Shields Gazette of this face to face sparring.

billy laidler
i was at gypsey green stadium the day ali came 2 shields, i was 18 at the time and had just started the buses as a conductor in oct 76, we provided the open top bus for the parade and i knew the driver frankie gaffin. i said hello 2 ali when the bus arrived at gypsey green. i was with a mate from school called alan pesrson, and i will remember that day for the rest of my life, i have 2 children and i tell them the day i met the greatset boxer of all time. it was a great day for south shields and all the people who were there.

Ken Wharton
Ali visited Grainger Park Boy's Club in Newcastle, I was part of the football section but the club was mainly a boxing club. I didn't speak to him but I was close to him and it is something that I will never forget.He was the best boxer in the world.

tonia mckie
my cousin Amanda Jelly was one of muhammad ali's bridesmaids and we all went to the race course for the reception after the blessing at the mosque.also my mother and aunty helped make part of the bridesmaids outfits

Ronnie Horesh
I was working in a bar at the Mayfair Dance Hall on the night Ali was there. I couldn't see Ali, but I could hear him speak. I remember his modesty and astonishment when somebody asked him whether he was bothered that the Queen was visiting at the same time. He was genuinely amazed that anybody would consider him in any way comparable to the Queen.

Sarah Mack
when mohammed ali visited south shields, it was my great nana's house that he stayed in.

Gary Hudson
I remember seeing him on the open top bus at west park on the way to laygate

Kevin Frost
I remember well this day as I was helping my father re-fill the cigarette machines he had in the large Plessey factory across the road from the mosque. It was a very exciting experience to see this all time great from the boxing world and as he always does, he charmed the crowd with his wonderful humour.

Beth
I was three years old, My parents had taken me to South Shields on the local WMC Club Trip. I remember being carried on my dad's shoulders and meeting Ali - he tapped me on the chin and I burst into tears. I still have his autograph on the back of one of his tickets.

michaelsummerly
myself and me mate jimmy gofton had climbed on top of gandis temple next to gypsies green stadium and as ali came past on the open top bus he caught his eye on us and gave us one of his famous fist salutes.

alan bowden
Ali visited Alnwick Castle.I remember seeing the car cavalcade heading south on the A1 after the visit.

Rob James
I remember seeing him, for all I was only 6! My mam has got photos of him on an open-topped bus around the Sea Hotel (I think) doing his tour of the town. Happy, hazy days, eh? Was a good summer that year, if my memory serves me right. We went to Evesham for our holidays, my brother was only 1 year old, and my nana took some photos of us standing at the bottom of the John Reid Road, waving our Union Jacks, waiting for the queen and her entourage! I can vaguely remember the street parties in Seton Avenue or Fox Avenue in 1977.

Gary Hunter
I remember when Ali challenged Alan Evans at a game of darts at Gypsies Green Stadium in South Shields, I think Ali even won that game aswell.

David Westwell
I was in the audience at Eldon Square sports hall where he gave an interview with Reg Gutteridge for ITV Sport. Afterwards he shook hands with the audience including mine.

Derek Robinson
My wife and I saw him in Eldon Square. He was surrounded by the biggest bodyguards we have ever seen

Peter Wilson
I remeber that day vividly. I went up to my old school, Pendower Hall Special School, where he was coming that afternoon. Everyone was waiting excitedly for his arrival. When he arrived I was standing at the school main entrance, and a crowd of people surged forward in front of me, and all of a sudden the crowd parted and there, nearly knocking me off my feet was Muhammad Ali. He put out a hand to stop me falling. He took my hand and shook it. I am so sorry that he has this illness. To me he will always be 'The Greatest'