Four new 'Local Heroes' revealed

Mike Neville. Credit: ITV News Tyne Tees

Former Tyne Tees news presenter Mike Neville is among four new people to be honoured on NewcastleGateshead’s “Walk of Fame”.

Those chosen have been nominated by local people, who voted for who they felt has made a significant contribution to the region during the past sixty-years.

The four names will be added to the existing list of 29 bronze plaques that currently make up the “NewcastleGateshead Local Heroes” collection along NewcastleGateshead’s iconic Quayside Mile.

The route goes from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge, across the River Tyne, to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge (on the Newcastle side of the water).

The nominations were open for one-month and in that time the panel received a diverse list of names from the world of sports, business, medicine and entertainment.

Nearly fifty individual nominations were made – totalling almost 400 votes between them.

The unveiled names are:

  • TIM HEALY. Actor from Benwell best known for Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Benidorm. Co-founded the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund.

  • JOHN GRUNDY. Television presenter and author specialising in north east history. Chairman of Friends of Beamish.

  • BRIAN JOHNSON. Singer and songwriter. Best known for his work with Geordie and AC/DC. Member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

  • MIKE NEVILLE, MBE. North East television presenter, known for his work for both the BBC and Tyne Tees Television.

The trail was first opened in 2014, by Lady Elsie Robson, wife of the late Sir Bobby Robson.

NewcastleGateshead Local Heroes is delivered and managed jointly by Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council in partnership with destination marketing organisation, NewcastleGateshead Initiative.

The additional bronze plaques will be installed at the start of May for everybody to enjoy along the NewcastleGateshead’s “Walk of Fame”.