Editing Neil Tennant (section)

===Early life===
Neil Francis Tennant was born in the town of North Shields, approximately 8 miles east of Newcastle upon Tyne, to William W. Tennant (1923–2009), a sales representative, and Sheila M. (Watson) Tennant (1923–2008).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=bA50vdYN8eUeyzPu%2Fv7AWw&scan=1|title=Index entry|access-date=22 August 2014|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> He has an older sister, Susan, and two younger brothers, Simon and Philip.<ref>{{cite book |last=Heath |first=Chris |date=2020 |title=Pet Shop Boys, Literally |location=London |publisher=William Heinemann |page=278 |isbn=9781473575691}}</ref> The family moved to Greenfield Road (opposite the corner of South Bend), Brunton Park, [[Gosforth]] shortly after Neil was born.<ref>{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Hannah |date=25 November 2016 |title=Childhood homes of North's stars; Where Our Famous Sons and Daughters Grew Up|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Childhood+homes+of+North%27s+stars%3B+WHERE+OUR+FAMOUS+SONS+AND+DAUGHTERS...-a0471378822|work=Evening Chronicle |location=Newcastle, UK |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref>

Tennant attended [[St Cuthbert's Grammar School]], an all-boys' Catholic school in Newcastle upon Tyne. His songs "This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave" and "[[It's a Sin]]" refer to his early life in Catholic school and the strict upbringing there.{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=16-17, 96-97, 192-193}}<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Behaviour: Further Listening 1990-1991 |title-link=Behaviour (Pet Shop Boys album) |last=Heath |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Heath |others=[[Pet Shop Boys]] |year=2018 |pages=6-7|type=booklet |publisher=Parlophone Records |id=0190295818852}}</ref>

As a child, Tennant taught himself to play guitar and piano and started writing songs.{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=9}} He also played cello in school.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Harrison|first=Ian|date=August 2013|title=Pet Shop Boys Interviewed: We prefer not to be fake |url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/pet-shop-boys-interviewed/|magazine=Mojo|access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref> During his teenage years, he played in a [[folk music]] group named Dust, who were heavily influenced by [[The Incredible String Band]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Tapper |first=James |date=10 April 2022 |title=From Pet Shop Boy to nostalgic folkie: Neil Tennant plays guitar |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/10/neil-tennant-plays-guitar-from-pet-shop-boy-to-nostalgic-folkie |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=8 October 2024}}</ref> Tennant wrote several of their songs including "Can You Hear the Dawn Break?", which he regards as his first 'proper' song.{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=10}} He was also a member of the youth theatre at the [[People's Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne]].{{sfn|Tennant|2018|p=10}}