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Photographer who snapped boxing legend eating sandwich dies aged 81

A regional daily photographer who snapped Muhammad Ali eating a big sandwich has died aged 81.

Tributes have been paid to Dennis Hutchinson, who worked at Newcastle daily The Chronicle in a career which began more than 60 years ago.

After moving on to work for national newspapers, Dennis had recently returned as an “honorary member of staff” at The Chronicle, with the newspaper publishing some of his favourite archived photographs.

One of his most well-known pictures, below, captured boxing legend Ali tucking into a tradtional ‘Geordie stottie cake’.

Muhammad-Ali

Before he died, Dennis said: “People get sick of reading about death and destruction and look forward to a laugh when they open the paper and see my pictures.

“I came to The Chronicle as a boy and in retirement returned with my photolaughs created from pictures taken over decades of my working life. Still seeing my photos in print at the age of 81 is just fantastic.”

His widow Joyce, 79, said: “He spent his life dedicated to newspapers and making people laugh through his pictures. He believed in having a laugh a day, along with a few brandies and believed laughter was the best form of therapy.

“He’s loved every bit of his career. I will miss him dearly but I’m proud that he’s left a legacy of laughs.”

Dennis began his career as a boy snapper on the Auckland Chronicle, in County Durham, before moving to The Chronicle at the age of 19.

He then moved to Manchester to work on the Daily Herald and Sunday People before returning to the North-East of England 44 years ago while still employed by the latter.

Dennis, who had suffered from cancer, died on Tuesday at his home in Earsdon, near Whitley Bay, being cuddled by Joyce.

He leaves leaves son Ian and daughters Karen, Debbie, Abbie and Lisa, who followed in her dad’s footsteps as a journalist at The Chronicle, as well as grandchildren Lewis, Mazie, Billy, Scott and Lori.