Sunderland has produced a wealth of heroes of the local, national, international and unsung variety. Here are just some of names associated with the city. Please note this is not a definitive list and nor does it include our acting and sporting sons and daughters (we promise to sing their praises separately quite soon). It merely attempts to cover a range of backgrounds and generations to suit different tastes.
![Born in Whitley Bay in 1945, Adie was brought up in Sunderland and attended Sunderland Church High School before enjoying a lengthy career with the BBC as their chief news correspondent.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAzY2Y2NDU1LWU4MmItNGNkNy04YjE0LTk2OTUyODA3MzdlOTo1MzFkMDM2NS01YTZkLTRjNjEtOGVkYy1hOGRkNzZlODcwZTU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Kate Adie
Born in Whitley Bay in 1945, Adie was brought up in Sunderland and attended Sunderland Church High School before enjoying a lengthy career with the BBC as their chief news correspondent. Photo: Picture Corrina Atkinson/
![Airey, third left, was born in June 1948 in Sunderland and grew up in the city before enjoying a lengthy rock music career with the likes of Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Whitesnake. He is now keyboardist with Deep Purple.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmM5MDFjNWM4LWUxMjktNDk4NS1hMTAzLTM1ODczYTQwNDA4NToxYTk4ZjAwMC03YWMxLTQ0MTMtOTQyMS0xNzJhOTJjOGNmZWQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Don Airey
Airey, third left, was born in June 1948 in Sunderland and grew up in the city before enjoying a lengthy rock music career with the likes of Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Whitesnake. He is now keyboardist with Deep Purple. Photo: Yui Mok
![Born at Washington New Hall in 1868, Bell was a writer, traveller, political officer, administrator and archaeologist who was instrumental in the foundation of the modern state of Iraq. She died in 1926.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmEyYzliZGZkLTNmYmUtNDRjOS1iMTY5LTMyMTkxM2FhNDk0NTphOGI1YzM0Ni00ODk4LTRjY2MtODVjOS1hZTQ3NDVhMjRiMmQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Gertrude Bell
Born at Washington New Hall in 1868, Bell was a writer, traveller, political officer, administrator and archaeologist who was instrumental in the foundation of the modern state of Iraq. She died in 1926. Photo: NOP
![The architect and television presenter was born in Sunderland in 1974 and educated at Oxclose School, in Washington, near to where he lived.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjgyNTJhMjY5LWM2ZTQtNDgyOC1iZmFjLTA3ZmZkZDNkYjA4ZTpmOTIxMjJlNS0wMWU2LTQ3YzEtOTJkNy0wYmEzODY3N2Y5MTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. George Clarke
The architect and television presenter was born in Sunderland in 1974 and educated at Oxclose School, in Washington, near to where he lived. Photo: Stu Norton