Muhammad Ali was in Norwich more than 40 years ago - on the last leg of a promotional tour for Ovaltine drinks.
He arrived by train and was taken to the then T W Downs supermarket in St Stephen's, where thousands waited for autographs.
But despite the big crowds for his visit on October 19, 1971, Ali declared that the Norwich public were the most civilised he had met on his long autumn tour.
'Most places have mobbed us, pushed the policemen over and become uncontrollable. Here I haven't been shoved around. That shows you how civilised the people are,' he said.
In the supermarket, Ali, in a white jacket and blue slacks, cracked the occasional joke and clenched his famous right hand – watched by 22 policemen and an army of security men.
After an hour at the supermarket, where he signed tins of Ovaltine for his admirers, he was whisked away to a press conference at the Castle Hotel where he answered a barrage of questions, many about his hopes of a rematch with fellow American heavyweight Joe Frazier.
•Do you have memories of Muhammad Ali from his visit to Norwich? Email chris.lakey@archant.co.uk
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