Whitley Bay

Whitley Bay is a town in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the North Sea coast. The town, which has a population of about 35,000, was originally a holiday destination for the people of North East England and Scotland and remained popular until the 1980s. The town is now widely seen as a dormitory town for Newcastle upon Tyne. Was known as Whitley until the 19th Century, when a body was taken to Whitby instead of Whitley, so the Bay was added to avoid future confusion.

Famous Residents (past and present)

• Rudolph Abel - Soviet super-spy (c. 1908-1921)
• Alun Armstrong - actor
• Rowan Atkinson - actor, writer, comedian (only a brief resident)
• Michael Bridges - former Newcastle United and Sunderland player
• John Gilroy - artist of Guinness advertisement fame
• Robson Green - actor (only a brief resident)
• Lee Hunter - actor from Steptoe and Son
• Captain William Earl Johns - author of Biggles (c. 1925)
• Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits singer
• Ian La Frenais - Comedy writer, (The Likely Lads, Porridge, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet)
• Lighthouse Family - Northern soul band
• John McLaughlin - Guitarist for Miles Davis, and Mahavishnu Orchestra
• John Middleton - Actor (Emmerdale)
• Peter Ramage - Newcastle United player
• Andy Taylor - Duran Duran guitarist
• Steven Taylor - Newcastle United player
• Bobby Thomson - local comedian
• Torvill and Dean - ice-skaters (only brief residents; 6 months)
• Steve Tuplin - former Sunderland and Hartlepool United player. Now a teacher
• The Tygers Of Pan Tang - 1980s rock group
• Emily Hilda Young - novelist