Bobby and Jackie Charlton The famous Charlton footballing brothers were
both born in Ashington and were nephews of Jackie Milburn, Bobby born 1937
played for Manchester United throughout his career. He was a member of the
English World Cup winning team of 1966 and is England's greatest goal scorer
with 49 goals. In the 60s it used to be said that everyone in the world knew at
least two words of English, Bobby Charlton.
His elder brother, Jackie Charlton, born 1935 also played for England in the
1966 World Cup Final and went on to become the most successful manager ever for
the Republic of Ireland Football Team. Jackie's home is still in Northumberland.
The Charlton brothers are remembered at the Woodhorn Colliery Museum in
Ashington.
Vic Reeves was born Jim Moiron 24th January 1959. Prior to comedy
stardom, Jim/Vic worked the till in a record shop, enjoyed a brief stint as an
inspector of aircraft parts and even tried his hand at pig farming. His wife
Sarah, left him four years ago for a builder, before having a lesbian affair and
then she settled down with her girlfriend in their family home. Meanwhile, he
became engaged to and then split from actress Emilia Fox, his co-star in Randall
& Hopkirk (Deceased) and is now dating a former Stringfellow's go-go dancer
called Nancy. Vic says he never wears underpants, but insists he changes his
trousers once a day
Neil Francis Tennant was born on July 10, 1954 in Brunton Park, North
Shields, Northumberland, England. He was raised in an upper-middle class
catholic family. He wrote his first song when he was 11 and taught himself how
to play guitar. In his teenage years he started the folk band Dust. Neil started
studying history at the North London Polytechnic School in 1972. After
completing his studies he took a job translating American slang at Marvel
Comics, later on he worked for MacDonald Educational Publishing and ITV Books
before he joined the pop magazine Smash Hits in the summer of 1982. Neil is not
just the singer of PSB he is the duo's fine lyricist as well.
His academical background shines through the intelligent lyrics which often
contain political and historical references. Neil's personal life has also been
a topic of conversation, the gay issue has been touched in several songs an
example is Metamorphosis (from Bilingual) What I wanted to be was a family man,
but nature had some alternative plans. In private Neil enjoys modern art,
antiques and classical music.
George Stephenson (1781 - 1848) was born in Wylam, Northumberland. He is
generally credited as the principal inventor of the railway locomotive and is
often known as The Father of the Railways. His humble Birthplace Cottage may
still be visited. Railway transportation was born on 27 September 1825 when
Stephenson's Locomotion ran from Darlington to Stockton, carrying 450 persons at
15 miles per hour. Stephenson's later Rocket won a famous competition to find
the fastest locomotive by travelling at an average speed of 36 miles per hour
from Liverpool to Manchester in 1830.
