As a proud Northumbrian who wore the red and gold of the fighting Percy family on the rugby field and the athletics track, I was truly honoured when the Northumberland County Council rang me recently to say I had been voted into the list of All Time Great Northumbrians. The polling was organised by them in the 6 weeks leading up to the Northumberland Live Festival and 30,000 people voted.

          Here is the list:

                   1. George Stephenson. Railway pioneer.

                   2. Grace Darling. Life-saving rower.

                   3. Lord Armstrong. Industrialist.

4. The Duchess of Northumberland. Aristo.

5. Jackie Milburn. Legend.

6. Jack Charlton. Legend.

7. Sid Waddell. Working class wordsmith.

8. Capability Brown. Landscape gardener.

9. Thomas Bewick. Bird engraver.

10 Sir Bobby Charlton. Legend.

Take it from me, the Waddell clan back in the former pit village of Lynemouth, near Ashington, were well chuffed.  Especially since the last time the family were honoured - when my dad Bob left the local pit after 48 years graft underground - the bosses spelt his name wrong! It says ‘Robert WEDDELL’ on the fancy scroll.