| From world-renowned musicians to Soviet spies, | | | | Abel as he called himself. Born in 1903, Abel is a highly |
| Newcastle has been home to numerous figures of | | | | regarded Soviet spy who was eventually captured by |
| international renown. One of the most famous of | | | | the FBI as a result of his intelligence work in the United |
| these is international singing sensation Sting. | | | | States. |
| Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, or Sting as he is | | | | Abel began his work as a spy after entering the |
| more commonly known, was born in Wallsend in | | | | OGPU - the Soviet Government as it was then known |
| Newcastle upon Tyne. Prior to his solo career he | | | | - in 1927. In 1947 he entered the United States as a |
| played the role of lead singer, bassist and songwriter | | | | spy. Abel's main role was to supervise the work of |
| for popular band, The Police. Combining the two | | | | other spies and report the information back to |
| careers, Sting has sold more than 100million records, | | | | headquarters. In 1957, Abel was arrested and |
| making him one of the most successful people to | | | | sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment. |
| come from Newcastle. | | | | Another notable person to be born in Newcastle and |
| Sting is also famous for his political activism having | | | | find prestige outside of the UK is Abhisit Vejjajiva, the |
| sung alongside Bob Geldof in the Feed the World | | | | current prime minister of Thailand. Having been the |
| project as well as Do They Know It's Christmas? | | | | leader of the Democrat Patry since 2005, Vejjajiva |
| More recently, Sting composed the album Songs for | | | | was elected as the 27th prime minister of Thailand at |
| Tibet in an effort to support Tibet and the current Dalai | | | | the end of 2008. |
| Lama. | | | | During his role in politics, Vejjajiva has faced much |
| Although he may not share the same celebrity appeal | | | | criticism, particularly his attempts to control new media. |
| as Sting, George Stephenson is another of the many | | | | Under Vejjajiva's leadership, the Democrat Party |
| celebrities to come from Newcastle. Born in Wylam | | | | made it a criminal offence to create any websites that |
| about nine miles outside Newcastle, Stephenson is | | | | spoke ill of the Thai Monarchy. |
| famously known as The Father of Railways. | | | | Although currently based in Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva |
| Born to a poor family, Stephenson did not receive a | | | | continues to hold strong ties with Newcastle and is a |
| formal education and because of this he was often | | | | lifelong fan of the city's football team. |
| looked down upon by his peers. In spite of this, | | | | Newcastle has produced many figures of recognition, |
| Stephenson continued his own studies, designing his | | | | giving it a unique fame that attracts thousands of |
| first locomotive in 1814 and then in 1825 opening the | | | | visitors every year. This combined with a huge number |
| world's first public steam locomotive railway. | | | | of flights to Newcastle and unique attractions |
| One of the more unusual characters to come from | | | | throughout the city make it a high priority when |
| Newcastle is Vilyam Genrikhovich Fisher or Rudolf | | | | exploring the cities of the United Kingdom. |