Welcome to Notable Middlesbrough. We're so proud that a large number of shining talents in a wide variety of fields are from Middlesbrough.
From Captain James Cook, the legendary explorer to internationally renowned artist Mackenzie Thorpe, award-winning fashion designer Kate Fearnley to entrepreneur Steve Gibson, Sir Liam Joseph Donaldson, a Chief Medical Officer for England, Chris Rea and Paul Rodgers from the music world are all from Middlesbrough, a city at heart.
See the navigation links below after some messages of support for City Status from Middlesbrough notables.
Notable Middlesbrough back the City Bid
From Juninho, “I have always thought of Middlesbrough as a city.
“Although I was born in bred in Brazil and now live there, I consider Middlesbrough to be my second home.
“It was not somewhere I had even heard of until I first joined Middlesbrough Football Club, but I loved the club, the town and the people so much that I returned there three times!
“For me, Middlesbrough is a wonderful place with proud, friendly, passionate people. And yet even in England, so many people do not realise what a great place it is.
“Of course, it has some challenges but that is why it needs to be recognised as a city, to help the economy and to provide more positive publicity. When I think of England, I think of Middlesbrough.
“It is a place England can feel very proud of and I am very proud to support its bid to become a city.”
Other stars to back the bid include Stewart Downing, who was born in Middlesbrough and grew up in Pallister Park.
Stewart, 27, went on to be a star winger for the Boro and is now an England international regular.
He said: “For me, Middlesbrough is already a city in all but name.
“I love the place. It’s where I grew up and started my life and career.
“The football club has helped to put Middlesbrough on the European map in recent years but there are plenty of other things we have to be proud about.
“I know there are big plans but I think it could do with a helping hand. Granting city status would be a massive boost for Middlesbrough and Teesside as a whole.”
Rock legend Paul Rodgers, former lead singer of Free and Bad Company and honorary graduate of Teesside University, said: “I take great pride in coming from Middlesbrough.
“It is where my roots lie and it is always a pleasure to return home. I have long seen Middlesbrough as a city in all but name.”
Kate Fearnley, 34, fashion designer and Ultimate Young Fashion Entrepreneur, Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year 2009, said: “I wholeheartedly support the city bid.
“It would be great recognition of how far Middlesbrough has advanced over the last few years.
“In many ways we are already a city – the status would reinforce how proud we are of our heritage and location. Middlesbrough is a great, creative and forward-thinking place, and I would be delighted to see it commended in this way.”
Mark Benton, actor, said: “I have worked in virtually every city in the British Isles during the course of my career. A lot of these cities are nowhere near as big as Middlesbrough!
“Middlesbrough is a great place which fills every criteria it needs to become a city. Long regarded as a poor relation to Newcastle, Sunderland and York, we deserve city status.
“Wonderful university and cathedral, thriving town centre and wonderful people make this bid impossible to ignore."
Adrian Bevington, Club England Managing Director, said: “City status would undoubtedly provide a wonderful boost to the people of Middlesbrough.
“While there is a long industrial heritage, tremendous steps have been taken to move the area forward with new technologies and the forward thinking Teesside University.
“Making Middlesbrough a City should prove a catalyst for attracting further business and visitors, which in turn will hopefully improve the economic situation.
“As a town, Middlesbrough has contributed so much to the fabric of the whole nation, through steel and chemicals, internationally famous bridge building and with famous sons such as Captain James Cook, Don Revie and Brian Clough.
“City status would be thoroughly deserved and would develop pride in younger generations to come.”
Richard Milward, 27, acclaimed author of hit novel Apples, said: “As a town which has successfully reinvented itself over the years - from an infant coal port, to an industrial powerhouse, to an innovative cultural centre - it beggars belief that Middlesbrough has yet to be granted city status.
“For the town to emerge, butterfly-like, as a city come the Diamond Jubilee, it can only have a positive butterfly effect on the region, and on the whole nation. Up the Boro!”
Jessica Robinson, 19, performing arts student and finalist in BBC1’s Over The Rainbow, said: “No matter where my career takes me in life, Middlesbrough will always be my home.
“I’m incredibly proud and feel privileged to come from such a fantastic place. I had an amazing upbringing filled with love, security, happiness and support from my community, all which took place in Middlesbrough.”
Paul Drinkhall, 21, British No.1 and triple European table tennis champion, said: “Middlesbrough is not only a great place to live but the people here love their sport – and it has an incredible number of great sportsmen and women.
“In fact, if Teesside had represented itself at the Commonwealth Games we would have finished 14th in the medal table!
“I love it for the Riverside Stadium, the iconic Transporter Bridge and the booming university. I’d love to see Middlesbrough become a city – it would be absolutely merited.”
Lord Leon Brittan of Spennithorne said: “I spent 12 very happy years as Chancellor of Teesside University and was always impressed at the partnership between “town and gown”.
“I have long admired the endeavour that Middlesbrough displays and the way in which it takes great pride in education, culture and its great industrial heritage. I wish the people of Middlesbrough every success in their application for city status.”
Paul Smith, 32, lead singer of rock group Maximo Park, said: “Middlesbrough was always the place my mates and I would gravitate towards for music, entertainment and general hustle and bustle as we were growing-up.
“It would be a boost for the whole of Teesside if we could achieve city status, no longer in the shadow of neighbours like Sunderland to the north and York to the south.
“The area needs to expand and keep developing so that it doesn't get left behind economically or artistically.”
Useful links
Notable Middlesbrough - a list of twitter accounts