Here then is our tribute to just some of the town’s acclaimed sons and daughters. It does not proclaim to be the definitive guide – there would be just too many names to cram in – and is merely a flavour of what we have had to offer the worlds of sport, music, broadcasting, fashion, film and beyond.
13. Reginald Hill
Award-winning crime writer was the son of former Hartlepools United player Reg Hill and born here in 1936. His famous creations include detectives Pascoe and Dalziel. He died in 2012. Photo: PA
14. Lindsay Johnson
Born in 1980, Lindsay was a trailblazer for the current generation of female footballers. An all-round athlete, the former Manor College and Hartlepool Sixth Form College defender played for Everton Ladies for more than a decade and was capped 43 times by England. Photo: JPI Media
15. Private Theo Jones
Born 1887, Private Jones was an assistant headteacher in town by the age of 18 and later a headteacher in Leicestershire before returning home to volunteer at the start of the First World.War. He was the first soldier to die on British soil following the Bombardment of the Hartlepools on December 16, 1914. Photo: Submitted
16. Andy Linighan
Born in 1962, the former English Martyrs School pupil played for his hometown club before scoring the winning goal with a header for Arsenal in the 1993 FA Cup final replay against Sheffield Wednesday. Photo: Tony Harris