Cardinal Hume was born at 4 Ellison Place, Newcastle, the son of Sir William Errington Hume, a Scottish Protestant professor of medicine, and Elizabeth, his French Catholic wife. He attended preparatory schools in Newcastle 1931-34 before being sent to Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, the boys' public school run by Benedictine monks. In 1941, he entered the monastery at Ampleforth, eventually taking vows as a monk in 1945. In 1950 he was ordained priest at Ampleforth, where he taught modern languages and coached the rugby team. In 1976, to the surprise of many, he was elevated to cardinal. In his high office he displayed both great spirituality and human warmth, In 1977 he published Basil in Blunderland, a children's book based on hide-and-seek played on holiday with two children.
He was an enthusiastic supporter of Newcastle United and even appeared in the pages of VIZ as Fulchester's purple-clad custodian: 'Guardeth thou the near post!' A plaque was unveiled at Ellison Place on 10 August 2000.