Redcar - Notable People

Notable People

Nathaniel Hawthorne, the well-known American novelist, came to Redcar on 26 July 1859 in search of peace and quiet, while he worked on the manuscript of The Marble Faun. Hawthorne's house stands at the junction of High Street and King Street. This was formerly known as the Hawthorne Cafe. The surviving negatives of Redcar photographer Alfred Edward Graham (1882–1945) were acquired by Redcar Urban District Council's Library and Museum Committee and are now held by the Redcar and Cleveland Museum Service.

Gertrude Bell, colonial administrator and colleague of Lawrence of Arabia spent her youthful years at Red Barns House in Coatham, now the Red Barns Hotel and a listed building. Rex Hunt, governor of the Falkland Islands during the 1982 invasion by Argentina, attended Coatham School. The late Minister for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam, represented Redcar in the House of Commons.

Film and television actresses June Laverick, and Wendy Hall, and actor/director/producer Robert Porter were all born in Redcar.

Singer David Coverdale, lead singer with Deep Purple and Whitesnake lived in Redcar as a youth and worked in the Gentry clothes shop on Coatham Road. Chris Norman, founder member and former lead singer of Smokie was born in Redcar. Pete York, drummer with the Spencer Davis Group and session drummer was born in Redcar.

Robbie Stockdale, ex Middlesbrough and now Grimsby Town footballer was born in Redcar David Wheater, Bolton Wanderers and England national football team central defender, grew up and still lives in Redcar. Paralympian, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, originally from Wales, lived in Redcar for a number of years with her husband and daughter. UCI World Champion Downhill Mountain Biker Danny Hart was born in and currently lives in Redcar.

Also see the category People from Redcar.