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Mayor signs book of condolences for Ali
Newly-elected Bristol mayor Marvin Rees opened up a book of condolences dedicated to Muhammad Ali.
Rees described Ali as a “legend and a true hero” and said he hopes the book will be sent to the US where it can be read by the champion boxer’s fans, friends and family.
He went on to pay tribute to a “true icon and one of the (world’s) fiercest warriors”, who provided personal inspiration during his own childhood and helped him harness “internal strength” after narrowly losing the 2012 mayoral election.
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Rees said: “I was a little brown kid growing up in Bristol, and Bristol was quite a tense city back in the early 70s so it was really important for me to have someone who was a real hero and was overcoming and who was speaking big and bold about who he was.
“That meant a lot for me very personally as a young guy looking for heroes and role models. But I’m also taken by how Muhammad Ali transcended sports and he transcended so many of the barriers he was pointing out.”
He added: “It’s amazing to look at the relationship and respect he had with people like Henry Cooper, (Michael) Parkinson, (David) Frost, and when you look at these interviews you can see someone who is offering real challenge to the people who are interviewing him – also challenging the world and the way it worked.
“But he was also someone who was incredibly attractive to these people at the same time and they have an affection for him and to hold all those things together; the overcoming, the challenge and the attractiveness is something special.”
The book of condolence is in the foyer of the Central Library and is open to the public to sign.
Read more: Discovering the history beneath our feet
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