List of people from South Shields

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This is a list of notable people who were either born in, or have lived in, the town of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, in the UK. It includes current and historical residents.

## Art and architecture[edit]

* John Chambers, artist
* Sheila Graber, animator, born South Shields,[1] made an outstanding animation about the river Tyne.[2]
* James Kirkup (1918-2009), poet[3]
* Tish Murtha, documentary photographer born in South Shields, best known for her work documenting marginalised communities, social realism and working class life in Newcastle upon Tyne and The North East England.
* Robert Olley born South Shields, painter of the Westoe Netty[4][5]
* Alison Smithson, co-founder with husband Peter Smithson of New Brutalism movement in architecture

## Business[edit]

* John Barbour (1849–1918) clothier, inventor and manufacturer of the Barbour jacket[6]

## Entertainment[edit]

* Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall from Little Mix.
* Charlie Drummond, a 2009 Big Brother contestant.[7]
* Sir Ridley Scott (born 1937) film director and producer.
* Marnie Simpson, Reality Star.
* Kane Avellano, Guinness World Record for youngest person to circumnavigate the world by motorcycle (solo and unsupported) at the age of 23 in 2017.[8]

### Acting[edit]

* Albert Burdon (1900–1981), actor, comedian
* Craig Conway (born 1975), actor starred in Our Friends in the North.[9]
* Ron Cook (born 1948), British television and theatre actor
* Eva Elwes (1876–1950), actor, playwright and manager of Alexandra Theatre, South Shields
* Eric Idle, part of the Monty Python team
* George Irving (born 1954), actor in films and TV. (Anton Meyer in Holby City)
* Lindsay Kemp, dancer, actor, teacher, mime artist and choreographer
* Dale Meeks, actor from Emmerdale (Simon Meredith)
* Leslie Randall (actor)
* Dame Flora Robson (1902–1984), Oscar-nominated actress
* Richard Short (born 1975), actor
* Edward Wilson, television actor (Billy Seaton in 'When the Boat Comes in') and director of the National Youth Theatre 1987-2004.[10]
* John Woodvine (born 1929) RSC actor

### Broadcasting[edit]

* Connor Robinson, former UFC Presenter
* Anna Foster English radio news reporter and presenter, currently presenting the early evening programme 5 Live Drive with Tony Livesey on Wednesday to Friday.

### Comedy[edit]

* Dave Sanderson aka Mr Food (comedy character on BBC Radio's Steve Wright In The Afternoon)
* Steve Furst (born 1967), comedian
* Sarah Millican (born 1975), stand-up comedian
* Chris Ramsey (comedian) (born 1986), stand-up comedian
* Rosie Ramsey (podcaster, writer, socialite)

### Music[edit]

* Angelic Upstarts, punk band formed in South Shields in 1977.
* Jack Brymer (1915–2003), eminent classical clarinetist[11]
* Lulu James, British soul artist.
* Ernest Farrar (1885–1918), organist, composer[12]
* Ginger (born David Walls, 1964), founding member of The Wildhearts, a hard rock and punk rock band; had success in the mid-'90s[13]
* Alex Kapranos, born in Gloucestershire but was brought up in South Shields, singer in the group Franz Ferdinand[14]
* Barry Lamb, experimental musician, composer was born in South Shields, 1963.
* Claire Rutter, operatic soprano[15]
* Splinter (band)
* Kathy Stobart (born 1936), jazz saxophonist[16]
* Danny McCormack, founding member of The Wildhearts[13]
* Joe McElderry, winner of The X Factor in 2009.[17]
* Jade Thirlwall (born 1992), raised in Laygate, South Shields, part of four-piece girl group Little Mix, winner of the eighth series of X Factor UK.
* Perrie Edwards (born 1993), part of four-piece girl group Little Mix, winner of the eighth series of X Factor UK.

## Military[edit]

* Richard Wallace Annand (1914–2004), first Victoria Cross recipient of the Second World War[18]
* John Simpson Kirkpatrick (1892–1915), hero of the Gallipoli campaign in WWI.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]
* Henry Howey Robson (1894–1964), recipient of the Victoria Cross[30]

## Politics[edit]

* Billy Blyton, Baron Blyton (1899–1987) of South Shields, Labour Party politician
* Sir William Fox (1812–1893) four times Prime Minister of New Zealand[31]
* Harold Heslop (1898–1983) trade unionist and writer[32]
* John Erickson (1929–2002), professor of politics at Edinburgh. NATO adviser[33]
* John Gray (born 1948), philosopher, formerly professor of European Thought at the LSE in London.[34]
* Simon Lightwood, MP for Wakefield

## Religion[edit]

* Oswine of Deira died (651 AD), Northumbrian King and Saint, legend states that he was born at Caer Urfa, site of the excavated Roman fort of Arbeia situated on the Lawe Top.[35]

## Science/medicine[edit]

* Leo Kinlen, professor of epidemiology at Oxford.
* Ernest Thompson Seton (1860–1946), naturalist, writer and Chief Scout of the Boy Scouts of America[36]
* Thomas Masterman Winterbottom (1766–1859), physician, abolitionist, Surgeon General of the Sierra Leone Company, originator of Winterbottom's sign, and founder of South Tyneside College.

## Sport[edit]

### Football[edit]

* Sam Bartram (1914–1981), goalkeeper for Charlton Athletic 1934-1956[37]
* Phil Brown (born 1959), former footballer, until 15 March 2010 manager of Hull City AFC
* Warney Cresswell, England footballer who played for Sunderland and Everton[38]
* Malcolm Crosby, (born 1954), former professional footballer and manager of Sunderland AFC (1991-1993).
* Tom Curry, former Newcastle United footballer who died in the Munich air disaster
* Stanley Mortensen (1921–1991), international footballer[39]
* Daniel Neil, Sunderland AFC footballer.[40]
* Liam Smith (born 1995), professional footballer.
* Nick Pickering (born 1963), former Sunderland F.C. player, won the FA Cup with Coventry City F.C. in 1987
* Adam Rundle (born 1984), Rotherham United player
* Steve Simonsen (born 1979), footballer[41]
* Martyn Waghorn (born 1990), former Sunderland A.F.C. player, currently plays for Derby County in the championship

### Other[edit]

* Chris Cook (born 1979) Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer[42]
* Andrew Stoddart (1864–1915) Captain of England at rugby and cricket[43]
* Sir Frank Williams (1942-2021) Formula One team owner[44]
* David Wilson (born 1985) Rugby Union Player

## Writers[edit]

* Elinor Brent-Dyer (1894–1969), author of the Chalet School stories[45]
* Robert Colls, professor of English history at the University of Leicester
* Catherine Cookson (1906–1998), novelist
* J. Thomas Looney (1870–1944), Comtean and Shakespeare authorship theorist.
* Barry MacSweeney (1948–2000), poet[46]
* Avro Manhattan (1914–1990), writer[47]
* James Mitchell (1926–2002), TV script writer - Callan, The Avengers, etc.
* Alan Myers (1933–2010), literary translator.
* Dorothy Samuelson-Sandvid, also known as 'Dorfy,' born South Shields, a Geordie dialect writer and author of 'A Basinful O' Geordie'[48]
* Francis Scarfe (1911–1986), poet and critic[49]

## Other[edit]

* William Downey, with his brother, pioneer photographer; royal photographers to Queen Victoria[50]
* Lauren Luke (born 1981), make-up artist/cosmetics, best known for her YouTube celebrity makeover tutorials.
* Kevin Maguire, award-winning journalist
* Eileen O'Shaughnessy, wife of George Orwell[51]
* Dolly Peel (1782–1857), fishwife, poet and legendary local character.
* George Stout (1860–1944), philosopher[52]
* Lord Wright of Durley (1869–1964), Lord of Appeal[53]
* William Wouldhave (1751–1821), inventor of the first functional lifeboat[54]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "The World of Sheila Graber" (PDF). 2 March 2004. Retrieved 17 November 2007. "with understanding the River Tyne"
2. ^ Graber, Dobson (6 December 2007) [1980]. My River Tyne. Sheila Graber. Retrieved 23 December 2007. "Animates the History of the river on which I lived from source in Scotland to the Mouth at South Shields. Also weaves in a bit of my own family connections with the river - on which my Dad was Pilot Master ."
3. ^ "James Kirkup bio page". Brindin Press. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
4. ^ "Famed Geordie netty is museum attraction". The Northern Echo. 31 March 2007.
5. ^ Wainwright, Martin (4 April 2007). "Urinal finds museum home". The Guardian.
6. ^ J. Barbour & Sons corporate history web page Archived 2006-10-15 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 15 December 2006.
7. ^ "Has Charlie found love in BB house?". South Shields Gazette. 22 June 2009.
8. ^ "Youngest person to circumnavigate the globe by motorcycle (male)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
9. ^ Myles-Kelly, Paul (2 July 2008). "GNR will be a home run for Craig". South Shields Gazette. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
10. ^ Harrington, Illtyd (8 February 2008). "Edward Wilson". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
11. ^ Emerson, June (18 September 2003). "Jack Brymer". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
12. ^ "The Story of Ernest Farrar". Christ Church Music Page. Christ Church - High Harrogate. Retrieved 19 December 2006. [dead link]
13. ^ a b "The Wildhearts Website". Music. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
14. ^ Kapranos, Alex (2 December 2005). "In grandmother's footsteps". The Guardian. "The only real difference is that my Geordie grandmother doesn't garnish her pease pudding with garlic and olive oil."
15. ^ "Clair Rutter biography". Intermusica Agency. 2006. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2006.
16. ^ Plater, Alan (15 April 2004). "Swing out sisters". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 22 December 2006.
17. ^ "'Joe gives me goose pimples!'". South Shields Gazette. 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
18. ^ "Grave location for holders of the Victoria Cross in County Durham". www.victoriacross.org.uk.
19. ^ "Not Only A Hero, An Illustrated Life of Simpson, the Man with the Donkey". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
20. ^ "Not Only A Hero, Tyneside". Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
21. ^ "Not Only A Hero, Jack in Australia". Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
22. ^ "Not Only A Hero, Training". Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
23. ^ "Not Only A Hero, The Landing". Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
24. ^ "Not Only A Hero, The Donkey". Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
25. ^ "Not Only A Hero, The Clown Prince". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
26. ^ "Not Only A Hero, Anzac Cove". Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
27. ^ "Not Only A Hero, May 19th". Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
28. ^ "Not Only A Hero, Monuments to Jack Simpson". Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
29. ^ "Men of ANZAC -John Simpson Kirkpatrick". ANZAC House Youth Hostel web site. Hassle Free Tourism and Travel Agency. 14 October 2005. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
30. ^ Askin, Alfred J. (2000). "List of Victoria Cross Holders". Victoria Cross Research.
31. ^ McLintock, A. H.; Morrell, W. P. (1966). "FOX, Sir William". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. New Zealand Ministry for Culture & Heritage. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
32. ^ "Harold Heslop biography page". Alan Myers Literary Guide. 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
33. ^ "John Erickson biography page". Alan Myers Literary Guide. 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2006.
34. ^ Brown, Andrew (3 December 2005). "The contrarian". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
35. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus (1985). The Buildings of England, County Durham. Great Britain: Penguin Books. p. 414\. ISBN 0-14-071009-4.
36. ^ Barber, Dee Seton. "A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF ERNEST THOMPSON SETON". Ernest Thompson Seton: His Life and Legacies. Ernest Thompson Seton Institute. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
37. ^ Mitchell, K., Grave indifference, The Observer, London, 19 August 2001, retrieved 15 December 2006.
38. ^ Sunderland Football Club Greatest 100 web page Archived 22 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, A-Love-Supreme Fanzine web site, retrieved on 17 December 2006.
39. ^ "Stanley Mortensen - Player Profile". Football-England.Com. 2005. Archived from the original on 7 December 2006. Retrieved 20 December 2006.
40. ^ "Sunderland's Dan Neil: 'The gaffer said I needed to improve'". The Northern Echo.
41. ^ "Steve Simonsen football data". soccorbase.com. Mirror Group PLC. 2006. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2006.
42. ^ Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games web site, Christopher Cook biography Archived 2007-06-13 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 17 December 2006
43. ^ "Andrew Stoddart statistics page". CricketArchive. 2003. Retrieved 23 December 2006.
44. ^ "Frank Williams Interview". GPUpdate.net. 31 January 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
45. ^ The New Chalet Club web site, Elinor Brent-Dyer biography web page, retrieved 16 December 2006.
46. ^ Arkwright, Helen (2004). "The Barry MacSweeney Collection". The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics. Newcastle University. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
47. ^ "Baron Avro Manhattan". Alan Myers Literary Guide. 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
48. ^ "Dorfy". Archived from the original on 13 April 2003. Retrieved 4 November 2007.
49. ^ "Francis Scarfe biography page". Alan Myers Literary Guide. 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
50. ^ Newcastle Arts Centre, Biography and Photographs of William Downey Archived 15 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on 18 December 2006.
51. ^ Taylor, D. J. (10 December 2005). "Another piece of the puzzle". Guardian Review. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 22 December 2006.
52. ^ "George Stout biography page". Alan Myers Project - Famous People: The North-East. The British Library. 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2006.[permanent dead link]
53. ^ "Lord Wright of Durley biography page". Alan Myers Project - Famous People: The North-East. The British Library. 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
54. ^ "William Wouldhave biography page". Alan Myers Project - Famous People: The North-East. The British Library. 2004. Retrieved 21 December 2006.