List of Coronation Street characters (1960)

Introduced by

Stuart Latham

Book appearances

Coronation Street:
The Complete Saga
Coronation Street:
The War Years

Spin-off
appearances

The Life and Loves of Elsie Tanner (1987)

Classification

Profile

Home

Birmingham

Family
Father	Arnold Tanner
Mother	Elsie Tanner
Brothers	Dennis Tanner
Husband	Ivan Cheveski (1958–84)
Sons	Paul Cheveski Martin Cheveski
Grandfathers	Arthur Grimshaw Wally Tanner
Grandmothers	Alice Grimshaw Susannah Tanner
Aunts	Fay Butler
First cousins	Bernard Butler Sandra Butler Gary Bailey
Other relatives	Arnley Grimshaw Colin Grimshaw Eileen Grimshaw Julie Carp Jason Grimshaw Todd Grimshaw

Linda Cheveski (née Tanner) is played by actress Anne Cunningham between 1960 and 1984. The character was created by series creator Tony Warren as part of the original cast, and she appears in the first episode along with family members including her mother, aging 'good-time girl' Elsie Tanner and her 'lovable rogue' brother Dennis. She is later joined by her Polish husband Ivan, and the young couple are central to early storylines as they cope with Linda's pregnancy affecting their marriage.

Cunningham was written out after a year due to a strike at the actor's union Equity preventing new contracts being signed,^[2] and the actress chose not to return when the strike ended. This has thus far proved to be Cunningham's last appearance as a member of the regular cast, but she has returned for several short stints since, most recently in 1984.

Storylines

Linda Tanner was the daughter of Arnold and Elsie Tanner. She was born in Annie Walker's living room at the Rovers Return Inn on the 8th January 1940, being delivered by Ena Sharples. Linda grew up in the Street, presumably attending Bessie Street School.

Like her mother Elsie, Linda was interested in men and eager to marry. At thirteen, she fought off her mother's boyfriend Chuck Nelson when he tried to rape her. She took a job at Elliston's Raincoat Factory and briefly dated David Barlow before falling for Roy Newman, an American GI stationed at Burtonwood. The pair became engaged but the whirlwind romance didn't last.

In 1957, she met Ivan Cheveski, a Polish immigrant, and they married in 1958. Their lives together began happily with a move to Warrington, but Linda quickly grew dissatisfied with the marriage as Ivan wanted to support her and didn't want her go off to work or to begin a family until they were financially secure. When she fell pregnant in late 1960, she fled to Weatherfield and moved back in with Elsie and younger brother Dennis. Ivan tracked her down but she was surprised when he liked the idea of having a baby, so they reconciled.

Deciding to stay in Weatherfield for the time being, the Cheveskis bought 9 Coronation Street and moved in. Linda gave birth to a baby boy on 14 June 1961 after two days in labour. Although Linda settled into motherhood well in Weatherfield, Ivan became interested in a job at his friend's firm in Canada. Linda was less keen on emigrating and ripped up the forms. Eventually she agreed, but didn't tell Elsie - eventually Ena Sharples told her. The Cheveskis left the country as planned a week later.

Linda, Ivan and Paul returned to the UK for Christmas 1962, and Linda admitted to Elsie she wasn't happy in Canada. Although Ivan was offered his old job back, they returned to Montreal. During her brief visit, Linda became suspicious that Elsie was having an affair with Len Fairclough.

Linda and Ivan had a second son, Martin Cheveski, born in 1964.

The family returned again in 1966, but although Linda wanted to stay in Weatherfield, Ivan had his heart set on Birmingham. Linda had been having an affair with a Canadian called Mike, and didn't know whether or not to return to Ivan.

As Linda was about to follow her husband to Birmingham, Paul went missing - he later turned up, having been rescued from the canal by a mystery man. The incident brought Ivan back to Weatherfield, and the Cheveskis reconciled again, and moved to Birmingham.

Aside from a brief return for Elsie's wedding to Steve Tanner in 1967, Christmas that year and Dennis's wedding the following year, Linda was not seen on the Street again until 1984, when she was entrusted by Elsie to take care of the sale of No.11 after she had left to live in Portugal. By this time, Linda was estranged from Ivan and hoped to stay in Weatherfield, but Elsie was adamant that the house be sold. Linda sold up to Bill Webster for £11,500 and left the Street again.

Frank Barlow

Main article: Frank Barlow (Coronation Street)

Ida Barlow (nee Leathers)

Main article: Ida Barlow

(portrayed by Noel Dyson)

Ken Barlow

Main article: Ken Barlow

(played by William Roache)

David Barlow

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Alan Rothwell

Duration

1960–61, 1963, 1964–68

First appearance

Episode 1
9 December 1960

Last appearance

Episode 764
10 April 1968

Created by

Introduced by

Stuart Latham (1960)
Margaret Morris (1963)
H.V. Kershaw (1964, 1965)

Book appearances

Coronation Street: The Complete Saga
Coronation Street: The War Years

Classification

Profile

Occupation

Footballer

Family
Father	Frank Barlow
Mother	Ida Barlow
Brothers	Ken Barlow
Wife	Irma Ogden (1965–70)
Sons	Darren Barlow
Grandfathers	Sidney Barlow George Leathers
Grandmothers	Edna Barlow Nancy Leathers
Aunts	Marjorie Barlow Ethel Leathers Vera Leathers
Nephews	Peter Barlow Daniel Osbourne Lawrence Cunningham
Nieces	Susan Barlow
Other relatives	James Cunningham (great nephew) Adam Barlow (great nephew) Simon Barlow (great nephew)

David Barlow was played by Alan Rothwell for a period of eight years between 1960 and 1968.

David was born on 4 July 1942 in Weatherfield, Greater Manchester. The Barlow family at 3 Coronation Street consisted of David, his older brother Ken, his mum Ida and his absent dad Frank, who was away fighting in World War II until 1945.

In 1961, David was an apprentice engineer but he wanted to pursue a career in football. He signed for Weatherfield County FC and in his first match he scored the only goal. He was one of the team's best players and in June a second division London team wanted to transfer David and offered £1,000 to sign him. David left Weatherfield to play for the team and didn't return until 1963, except for a brief trip up for Ida's funeral which he watched from afar. By 1963, he was quite well off financially and didn't fit in with the locals.

He next visited over Christmas 1964 and stayed with Ken and his wife Val. He didn't tell them that he was suspended from playing for accepting a bribe, but by February was cleared. He was off the field again in April after tearing a ligament, and stayed with the Barlows so he could date Irma Ogden, who he started seeing during his previous visit. By now, Frank had moved away, and Ken was David's only family in the area. David announced he was retiring from football but took a job as player coach for Weatherfield Athletics. He was also contracted to write for a football gossip column in Weatherfield Advertiser.

Fun-loving Irma was flattered by David's interest in her and was receptive to his advances. He wanted to move the relationship to the next level and asked her to marry him when the street residents went a trip to the Blue John Mines. Irma accepted.

David had big plans for them to move to Cheshire and Irma's parents were keen for her to have a well-off lifestyle as the Ogdens had always struggled with money. Irma's parents were an old-fashioned couple and Stan Ogden hit Irma when he found David in Irma's bedroom. David convinced Irma they should marry quietly and without telling their families, but everybody found out anyway and surprised them by showing up for a reception.

While playing at a charity football match, David was injured and rushed to hospital, where he was told by the Doctor that he wouldn't be able to play football again. The newlyweds had to cancel their plans to buy a house as he couldn't continue at the club. His football career over, he considered a factory job but hesitated as it was such a step down. Irma convinced him it might be a better idea to buy the Corner Shop in Coronation Street as owner Lionel Petty was selling. At first he was too proud to accept living in Coronation Street, which caused a brief split between him and Irma. Ken's wife Val talked David round, telling him marriage is sometimes difficult and he has to put the effort in.

David had trouble getting to know the Ogdens. In 1966, Irma left the shop to work in the PVC factory across the street as shop work bored her, and David was lumbered with free-loading Hilda Ogden as shop assistant. David was never happy in the shop as it was typically where the women of the Street went to share gossip. Irma soon returned to work in the shop.

In 1967, David considered standing for Council elections, but Irma hated the idea and he eventually decided not to go through with it.

Irma told David she wanted to have a baby. She got pregnant the same year, but had a miscarriage. David reminded Irma that they could try again but Irma was devastated and was convinced this meant she couldn't have children. David was fraught about how to make Irma happy, and went to an adoption agency to see if that was an option for them. David still hoped Irma would change her mind but at Christmas the couple fostered Jill Morris for a few days.

In 1968, David was rapidly growing tired of the shop, and aspired to return to football, still being young enough to have a good career ahead of him. Despite his earlier injury, he played a game, and his leg was fine. He took this as a sign that he might just be able to return to the sport full-time, for a team in Australia, but Irma was dead against it - the prospect of living somewhere where they didn't know anyone appealed to David much more than it did to Irma. However, when David was offered the position he wanted he took it and set about selling the shop. To interest potential buyers, he had an article published in the Gazette but the article made it seem as though David and Irma were emigrating because streets like Coronation Street were beneath them. Maggie Clegg eventually bought the shop.

In 1970, the Barlows and their son Darren were involved in a car crash. David and Darren were both killed, but Irma survived and returned to Weatherfield shortly after the crash.

Elsie Lappin

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Maudie Edwards

First appearance

9 December 1960
Episode 1

Last appearance

14 December 1960
Episode 2

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Classification

Former; guest

Family
Husband	Tommy Foyle (1930–1945) Les Lappin (1947–1952)
Daughters	Hilda Foyle Shelagh Foyle

Elsie Lappin (née Castleway, previously Foyle) is the owner of the Corner Shop on Coronation Street from 1945 to 1960. She speaks the first words in the show, when she is explaining the ins and outs of the shop and its customers to Florrie Lindley, with whom she becomes friendly. Once Elsie hands over the lease to the shop to Florrie, she leaves the Street.^[3]

A variety singer in her youth, Elsie's singing days ended when she injured her vocal chords at twenty-three. In 1930, she married widower Tommy Foyle and ran the Corner Shop in Coronation Street with him until his death in 1945. They had two children together, Hilda and Shelagh. Elsie enjoyed working behind the counter and took over the running of the shop when Tommy was confined to bed after a stroke.

When rationing laws were in place during World War II, Elsie helped her neighbours by buying black market goods to supplement their allotments. Elsie's scheme was rumbled by the police and she was fined.

The war ended on 8 May 1945, but as the other Street residents celebrated, the Foyles mourned the passing of Tommy who died from a heart attack. An invalid in his later years, Tommy had urged Elsie to remarry so she wouldn't have to run the shop alone after his death, and although she could cope perfectly well at the shop Elsie did get married again, to Les Lappin in 1947. Elsie was a widow again in 1952 when Les died from a heart attack.

Hilda and Shelagh remained at the shop until 1957 and in 1960 Elsie decided to retire. Buying a bungalow at Knott End, she sold the shop to Florrie Lindley. After the sale, Elsie remained for a few days to show Florrie the tricks of the trade and warn her about the neighbours.

Florrie Lindley

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Betty Alberge

Duration

1960–65

First appearance

9 December 1960
Episode 1

Last appearance

2 June 1965
Episode 467

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Classification

Family
Husband	Norman Lindley
First cousins	Alan Mather

Florence Lena 'Florrie' Lindley is one of the original characters of Coronation Street.

Shy, retiring Florrie was a barmaid at the Farrier's Arms on Collier Street before moving from Esmerelda Street to Coronation Street in 1960, buying the Corner Shop from Elsie Lappin and renaming it "Lindley's Provisions". She was worried about moving to a place where she didn't know anyone, and told the neighbours that she was a widow when in fact she was separated from Norman Lindley who had left for engineering work in India.

Her first few days in the shop were marred when she was caught by the police selling firelighters after closing time. She was fined £1 in court, but she was mainly worried about the local newspaper carrying the story and sullying her reputation.

Florrie settled in well, making a few friends such as Elsie Tanner and Albert Tatlock, and she hoped romance would be on the horizon with widower Harry Hewitt, but he was largely oblivious to her interest and ended up marrying barmaid Concepta Riley shortly after her arrival. She had no close friends in the street and usually went to bingo when she was lonely.

Sometimes Florrie had trouble paying her suppliers, so to generate a regular source of income, Florrie rented out the flat above the shop, while she lived in the accommodation behind the shop. The first tenants were Phil Braithwaite and Norman Dobson, and they were followed by Sheila Birtles and Doreen Lostock.

In 1962 Florrie and Elsie went on a few blind dates together. Elsie was more experienced at dating than Florrie, and still acted youthful, when actually both were the same age. Florrie ended up seeing Frank Barlow when they were both stood up, but they kept their meetings secret at first as Frank was also recently widowed. His intentions were never more than honourable and it soon dawned on Florrie that Frank wanted them to be just close friends. Florrie poured her heart out to him but he still wouldn't open up to her and he later admitted that he wasn't interested in her romantically. To save face, Florrie said she felt the same. They remained friends.

After one trip to the bingo with Emily Nugent in 1963, Florrie won £100 but was mugged. She was relieved when Jerry Booth got her handbag back.

In 1964, Florrie decided to make some changes to the shop, and opened a sub post office, and moving the door to stop the draughts. She took on Dennis Tanner as assistant, but he wasn't up to the job and was replaced by Irma Ogden. However, she was trying to distract herself from the loneliness she felt and occasionally she lashed out at Irma. One particularly bad day saw Florrie have a breakdown in the shop and throw a tin through the shop window, and collapse in a sobbing heap.

Shortly afterwards things picked up as Florrie returned to the shop against her Doctor's orders and she started seeing Irishman Tickler Murphy. Tickler was interested in the shop, and kept up the relationship until Florrie started talking about marriage, too soon apparently as he was afraid of commitment and fled back to Ireland.

In 1965, Florrie's estranged husband Norman Lindley tracked her down and appeared at the shop, seeking a reconciliation. The neighbours were stunned that Florrie wasn't a widow as she had always claimed. Florrie wasn't sure how to react to him, as he said if she didn't go to Canada with him they might as well get a divorce.

Norman's head was turned by Elsie Tanner, and they went out while Norman laboured under the impression that Florrie was going to turn him down. Florrie deliberated over it but eventually went to Canada with Norman after all.

Ena Sharples

Main article: Ena Sharples

(Played by Violet Carson)

Annie Walker

Main article: Annie Walker

(portrayed by Doris Speed)

Albert Tatlock

Main article: Albert Tatlock

(played by Jack Howarth)

Susan Cunningham

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Patricia Shakesby

Duration

1960–61

First appearance

9 December 1960
Episode 1

Last appearance

6 January 1961
Episode 9

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Book appearances

Coronation Street: The Complete Saga

Classification

Former; guest

Family
Sons	Lawrence Cunningham
Grandsons	James Cunningham
Granddaughters	Chloe Cunningham

Susan Cunningham attends university with Ken Barlow and becomes his first girlfriend. She appears in the very first episode of Coronation Street and makes her last appearance in early 1961.

Susan Cunningham was a contemporary of Ken Barlow at Manchester University who unwittingly caused trouble at home for Ken in 1960. Ken arranged to meet her for drinks at the Imperial Hotel, where his mother Ida was employed as a kitchen hand. Frank Barlow objected to Ken spending money in the same place his mum worked hard to earn it and forbade Ken from meeting Susan. When Ken didn't show Susan drove to Coronation Street to see if he was alright.

Ken's university education had turned him into "a proper stuck-up little snob", as Albert Tatlock put it - "snooty" was the simple way in which Ken's father Frank defined Ken's marked change in attitude. Thus, Ken gradually became thoroughly embarrassed of his surroundings; his contemporaries lived in more affluent areas of the city and he was put out when Susan arrived at No.3, the family home. Susan realised this but soon put his mind at rest: she liked Ken for himself and was not at all bothered by his homeplace.

Ken and Susan split up in 1961, shortly after they took part in a "Ban the Bomb" protest, as they both felt that their backgrounds were too far apart.

Some time later, Susan discovered that she was pregnant by Ken and wrote a letter to him asking if he wanted to try again with their relationship, but he never replied. Her son Lawrence was born later that year. Lawrence went on to have a good career as an English lecturer and had two children of his own, James and Chloe, with Ken none the wiser until August 2010 when it was discovered that Susan's letter had got stuck behind the skirting board at No.3 before he'd had a chance to read it. By this time, Susan had been dead for several years but the discovery of the letter prompted Ken to contact Lawrence and on meeting him, it became obvious to Ken that Lawrence was his son.

Ken began to bond with his son but after discovering that Lawrence was homophobic and disapproved of his son, James, being homosexual, Ken cut all contact with him, angry that he would disown his own son for being different.

Ivan Cheveski

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Ernst Walder

Duration

1960–63, 1966–67

First appearance

14 December 1960
Episode 2

Last appearance

27 December 1967
Episode 734

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Book appearances

Coronation Street: The Complete Saga

Classification

Family
Wife	Linda Cheveski (until 1984)
Sons	Paul Cheveski Martin Cheveski
Uncles	Rizard Cheveski

Ivan Cheveski played by actor Ernst Walder until 1967. He is a Coronation Street resident in the early 1960s, and the husband of Elsie Tanner's daughter Linda. He and Linda originally move to Warrington but buy a house in Coronation Street when Linda wants to be closer to her family. Ivan, Linda and their newborn son Paul move to Canada in 1961, making the occasional visit to Weatherfield on their return to the UK in 1966.

Born in Poland, Ivan and his family left their home during the war as Ivan's grandparents' shop was burned down by the Nazis when they were found to be harbouring a Jewish doctor. After the war, Ivan emigrated to the UK, and found a home in Warrington with his uncle Rizhard.

On 1 April 1958, Ivan married eighteen-year-old Linda Tanner and the pair settled in Warrington. Hard-working Ivan saw it as his duty to provide for his wife and preferred that Linda didn't work. Linda fled to her home town Weatherfield to stay with her mum Elsie Tanner, telling her she wasn't returning to Ivan, but when he followed her to get her back, she admitted she was pregnant. Ivan was thrilled and agreed to stay in Coronation Street - the couple moved into 9 Coronation Street, and Ivan bought it.

While Linda and Elsie prepared the house for the baby, Ivan concentrated on money. He worked in Warrington, and kept up the job while living in Weatherfield. For extra money, he took an evening job as potman at the Rovers Return Inn. Linda convinced Ivan to take a day job in Weatherfield, at an ironworks.

In June 1961, Linda gave birth to a baby boy - Ivan wanted to name him Rizhard after his uncle, but they settled on Paul.

The new parents were worried when Paul developed a lingering chesty cough, and it made them realise how unhealthy living in the inner city was. When Ivan received a letter from one of his workmates in Canada, he became taken with the standard of living his friend had and when offered a job that would see him earn just as much as his friend, Ivan convinced Linda that they should emigrate. Linda agreed, for better or worse, and the family moved.

The Cheveskis made several return visits to Weatherfield, including once for Christmas in 1962 and again in 1966 when Ivan had set his mind on moving to Birmingham. The marriage was in crisis as Linda had had an affair with a Canadian and returned to Weatherfield. Ivan got a job in Birmingham and waited for Linda to come to her senses. It took an accident in which Paul fell into a canal to bring Ivan up to Weatherfield, and the Cheveskis got back together after all. Ivan was furious when he found out that councillor Len Fairclough had voted against the erection of a fence by the canal, and hit him when drunk, blaming him for what could easily have killed his son.

Ivan and Linda had a second son, Martin, in 1964 and stayed in Birmingham, next visiting for Elsie's wedding to Steve Tanner in 1967.

In 1984, Ivan and Linda split up, apparently for good.

Harry Hewitt

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Ivan Beavis

Duration

1960–65, 1967

First appearance

14 December 1960
Episode 2

Last appearance

6 September 1967
Episode 702

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Book appearances

Coronation Street: The Complete Saga

Classification

Family
Father	Thomas Hewitt
Mother	Mary Hewitt
Sisters	Alice Burgess Frances Hewitt
Wife	Lizzie Harding (1948–59) Concepta Riley (1961–67)
Sons	Christopher Hewitt
Daughters	Lucille Hewitt
Grandfathers	Samuel Hewitt Alfred Makepiece
Grandmothers	Dolly Hewitt Ivy Makepiece

Harry Hewitt is played by actor Ivan Beavis.

Harry Hewitt was the second of Thomas and Mary Hewitt's children, born on 24 February 1921. Like his older sister Alice, he was educated at Hardcastle's Factory School, which later became Bessie Street School, before going out to work at fifteen and landing a job as a clippie on the newly established Weatherfield Bus Service.

Harry and Alice both suffered from Mary's mental problems. During the Depression, Thomas had been so desperate for work that he joined a raid on Elliston's Raincoat Factory, only to be caught by the police and imprisoned. By the time he returned home, Mary had changed into resentful and angry woman, but her problems went ignored until the night Harry returned home from a pub crawl after receiving his first wage from the buses. As he stumbled into the house blind drunk, Mary came charging down the stairs in her nightgown, a carving knife in her hand, and started slashing at her son in a psychotic episode. While the neighbours held her down, the doctor was called and Mary was carted off in a van. She spent the rest of her life in a mental asylum, passing away in 1936. Harry, who had sustained cuts to his arms in the attack, didn't attend the funeral.

Thomas Hewitt was not particularly close to either of his children, and after war broke out, was ashamed of Harry not being accepted into service (due to foot problems). In June 1940, Alice's husband Sam Burgess was killed in battle, and Thomas shamed his son into enlisting. Harry rarely visited Weatherfield during his leave from service, preferring to stay with his sister, but returned briefly for his favourite cousin Sally Todd's wedding.

Living with his father after the war, Harry returned to the buses, where he was promoted to conductor. One of the new clippies was Nellie Briggs, with whom Harry arranged a double date, with his mate Len Fairclough and her friend Lizzie Harding making up the numbers. Harry and Len quickly realised they were both after Nellie and Harry ended up going for Len when he made a play for Nellie first, only to be knocked to the floor by Len. It was only when Lizzie leaned down to nurse his bloody nose that Harry noticed that she wasn't bad either, and arranged a date!

Harry and Lizzie were married in 1948, and in 1949 their daughter Lucille was born. With Thomas's passing in 1947, the Hewitts stayed on at 7 Coronation Street, now the third generation of their family to inhabit Coronation Street.

The Hewitts led a peaceful life in the Street until the cold winter of 1959, when Lizzie was hit by an out-of-control bus which had skidded on the ice. Harry latterly comforted the driver, before being informed by Ena Sharples that it was his own wife who had been hit in the crash. Harry tried for some months to look after Lucille on his own but, despite help from his neighbours, he realised he was unable to properly support her alone and so he applied to the council to take her into care. When the day arrived for Lucille to go to the children's home, Harry was almost as distressed as Lucille, feeling the sense of loss from his daughter's departure almost as much as he had with Lizzie.

Lucille, unwilling to spend Christmas in the orphanage, walked all the way to Coronation Street in late December 1960, convincing Harry to let her stay at least until after Christmas. Harry arranged for his neighbour Esther Hayes to look after Lucille when he was away at work. For a short while the following year Harry's sister Alice moved into his home to help look after Lucille, but neither party enjoyed the arrangement and shortly afterwards Alice left to take a housekeeping job elsewhere. Harry was not short of female attention though, as local shopkeeper Florrie Lindley and one of his colleagues Eileen Hughes fought over his attentions. Harry was not romantically attracted to either lady.

The barmaid of the Rovers Return, Concepta Riley, also returned to Weatherfield from her native Ireland in 1960. A flirtation sprang up between Concepta and Harry, with Harry taking Concepta to the Bus Depot Dance. Whilst on a coach trip to Blackpool Harry proposed to Concepta, who accepted. Despite her family's initial reservations due to Harry being a Protesant, Harry and Concepta were married on 1 October 1961 in a Catholic ceremony, with Concepta's parents' blessing. The couple honeymooned on the Isle of Man.

Harry did not settle down easily into his second marriage. Arguments over furniture and Harry's tendency to spend the evenings drinking with Len Fairclough followed.

Concepta found she was pregnant and Harry found himself father to a son, Christopher. During a party to celebrate the first wedding anniversary of Harry and Concepta, Christopher went missing while in Lucille's care. His disappearance sparked a police search, and the empty pram was discovered on waste ground. After being questioned by the police, Lucille admitted to Harry that she'd left Christopher with a girl from her class, Brenda Cowan, while she was in Gamma Garments. Elsie Tanner eventually found Christopher alive and well with Joan Akers, whose own baby had died, and convinced her to return the baby to the Hewitts herself. Throughout the crisis, Harry remained a tower of strength and supported Concepta and Lucille.

In 1963, when Harry became ill with a chesty cough, Concepta began considering a move to the Irish countryside, making a living by buying her father's garage-cum-grocers. Harry was immediately won over and handed in his resignation at work, but when faced with Lucille's refusal to move, he changed his mind. Concepta threatened to move on her own, but after a row with Harry and Lucille, she backed down and resigned herself to a life in Weatherfield. After a month on the dole, Harry got a new job as a chauffeur for Amalgamated Steel.

The following August, Concepta's father's failing health forced him into retirement, and Concepta once again pushed Harry to move to Ireland to take over the business. History repeated itself as Harry was caught between two women, with Concepta and Lucille equally stubborn in their opposing positions. However, Harry realised that Concepta wasn't going to let the matter drop a second time, and made preparations to emigrate. Annie Walker, Concepta's former employer at the Rovers, offered to take Lucille in as the Walkers' ward so that she could finish her schooling in Weatherfield, an offer graciously accepted by the Hewitts. Although Harry was unsure about leaving Lucille behind, Lucille's acceptance of her new situation did much to allay his fears.

Harry returned to Weatherfield the following year to escort Lucille to her new family home only to find that his daughter, now a young, independent woman, had a job and no intentions of leaving Lancashire. Harry decided to respect her wishes and for the time being she remained with the Walkers.

The Hewitts returned to Weatherfield one last time in September 1967, to attend the wedding of Elsie Tanner to Steve Tanner. After the wedding, Harry and Len went to visit an old mate in Len's van. En route, the van broke down, and Harry tried to repair it himself, jacking up the van with bricks. While underneath, the bricks slipped and Harry was crushed. He died in hospital.

Esther Hayes

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Daphne Oxenford

Duration

1960–63, 1971–72

First appearance

14 December 1960
Episode 2

Last appearance

5 April 1972
Episode 1171

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Classification

Family
Father	Sidney Hayes
Mother	Alice Hayes
Brothers	Tom Hayes Fred Hayes
Sisters	Ada Harvey

Esther Hayes is played by Daphne Oxenford. Esther lives at Number 5 Coronation Street, she is a spinster who has looked after her family and was living alone by December 1960. Esther was a kind and friendly person who would come to the aid of anyone who had a problem. During her time on the street she was a listening ear to the likes of Christine Hardman, Ken Barlow and Lucille Hewitt, she moved into a luxury flat on the other side of Weatherfield in 1962, although she returned to the street for different occasions, her last visit was for the wedding of Emily Nugent and Ernest Bishop in 1972. She died in 2012, at the grand age of 88 in her home in Glasgow.

Jack Walker

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Arthur Leslie

Duration

1960–70

First appearance

14 December 1960
Episode 2

Last appearance

24 June 1970
Episode 983

Created by

Book appearances

Coronation Street:
The Complete Saga
Coronation Street:
The War Years

Profile

Occupation

Pub landlord (former)

Family
Father	Amos Walker
Mother	Joan Walker
Brothers	Arthur Walker Jim Walker
Sisters	Louise Walker
Wife	Annie Beaumont (1937–1970)
Sons	Billy Walker
Daughters	Joan Davies

John "Jack" Walker is portrayed by Arthur Leslie between 1960 and 1970. Jack was born on 26 April 1900 in Accrington, Lancashire. He was born to parents Joan and Amos, who was a veterinarian. Jack married the love of his life Annie Beaumont in 1937, and shortly afterward the couple bought the Rovers Return Inn. They ran it together and Annie gave birth to a son, Billy, in 1938 and later a daughter Joan, the apple of Jack's eye. Jack soon had to go and fight for his country in the Second World War and Annie was left to run the pub until Jack returned. Jack was a long-suffering husband as Annie was a snob and saw herself as a more educated person than the rest of the people on Coronation Street, Jack had to put up with Annie's antics and enjoyed watching his daughter Joan marry in 1961.

Jack and Annie were also offered the Royal Oak by the brewery but they decided that their heart belonged in the Rovers Return. In 1964, Annie left Jack after she suspected him of cheating on her. Jack remained calm as he knew that her accusations were untrue and he had not been having an affair. Annie soon realized this and returned to the Rovers. Three years later, Annie again suspected that Jack was having an affair, this time with Elsie Tanner in 1967, but Annie had incorrectly interpreted the situation as Jack wanted Elsie to make some clothing for Annie. Jack also helped his good friend Ena Sharples recover from the death of her daughter in 1967.

In 1969, the residents of Coronation Street arranged a trip but the coach crashed and Jack was left in a bad way, which left Annie in tears but Jack recovered in time to serve behind the bar again. Jack and Annie had run the Rovers for 33 years when Jack fell ill and went to stay with his daughter Joan in Derby. Jack died of a heart attack while at Joan's house. His death was the result of actor Arthur Leslie dying from the same cause. He was the first main character on Coronation Street to be written out due to the death of the actor who played them, so it was a huge shock at the time. Out of respect for Leslie's family, Jack's funeral took place off-screen, and his death (unlike those of future characters who were written out for the same reason) was presented as a known fact to the main characters from the beginning of Episode 987 (broadcast 8 July 1970), and did not dominate the storyline. Jack left a devastated street of residents and a heartbroken wife, but as he would have wanted, the Rovers remained open and Annie continued to be landlady for another 13 years.

Martha Longhurst

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Lynne Carol

Duration

1960–64

First appearance

14 December 1960
Episode 2

Last appearance

13 May 1964
Episode 357

Created by

Introduced by

Stuart Latham

Classification

Profile

Occupation

Cleaner

Family
Father	Jack Hartley
Mother	Mary Hartley
Husband	Percy Longhurst (1919-1955)
Sons	Harold Longhurst
Daughters	Lily Haddon
Granddaughters	Sandra Haddon

Martha Longhurst (née Hartley) was played by Lynne Carol from the show's inception in 1960, from episode 2 until her character's controversial death in 1964.^[3]

In 1960 Martha and Ena Sharples argued over Martha's decision to take Ena's old job as the caretaker at the Mission Hall, and, in 1963, Martha became resident cleaner for the Rover's Return. In 1964, Australian millionaire Ted Ashley returned to Weatherfield for the first time in 50 years, and, in a last-ditch pathetic attempt to find love, Martha threw herself at him, only to be rejected at a subsequent date in London. In May 1964, Martha was invited on her first foreign holiday abroad—a week-long trip to the Costa del Sol with her daughter and family. Though she was invited so she could babysit her grandchildren, Martha was thrilled at the prospect (despite being chided as being frivolous by Ena), and, on the night before her departure, celebrated her holiday in the snug with her friend Ena, (Minnie was away). During the celebration, the Street residents gathered to wave off another long-time favourite, Frank Barlow. During a sing-a-long organised to bid him farewell, Martha collapsed and died of a heart attack, just hours before she was due to travel to Spain.

The 1964 episode of her death, however, was not the last time Martha Longhurst featured in a Coronation Street storyline. Over 10 years after her death, Betty Turpin, barmaid at the Rovers Return, reported hearing a voice like Martha's in the snug. Ena Sharples claimed later in the storyline that she had seen the ghost of Martha Longhurst in the snug on several occasions. The residents used a ouija board to try and call Martha from beyond the grave. The storyline concluded with Martha's glasses being found in the Snug of the Rovers Return, in the exact position they were when they toppled off her face as she suffered a heart attack at the same table ten years previously. This was referenced again almost 40 years later, on 2 September 2011, when Dennis Tanner joked that a mysterious voice Roy Cropper could hear was "Martha Longhurst's ghost".

Minnie Caldwell

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Margot Bryant

Duration

1960–76

First appearance

14 December 1960
Episode 2

Last appearance

7 April 1976
Episode 1589

Created by

Introduced by

Stuart Latham

Classification

Profile

Occupation

Mill Worker

Home

Whaley Bridge

Family
Father	Bob Carlton
Mother	Amy Carlton
Husband	Armistead Caldwell (1925–35)
First cousins	Bertha

Minnie Caldwell (née Carlton) is one of the original characters in the long-running British soap opera, Coronation Street.

Minnie, played by Margot Bryant from 1960 to 1976, was a timid and lovable elderly woman who went about with the more dominant characters of Martha Longhurst and Ena Sharples. Minnie was known to be very indecisive, which often led Ena to label her as slow-witted or "daft".

From 1960 to 1962, Minnie lived with her bossy mother, Amy Carlton (1868-1962). When Amy died aged 94, Minnie moved from Jubilee Terrace to No 5 Coronation Street, where she lived with her cat, Bobby. Bobby, an orange tabby, was played by many cats over the years, and a storyline was created to explain the obvious differences in appearance: another character, Albert Tatlock, had accidentally killed the real Bobby in 1969 and replaced him so as not to upset Minnie.

Minnie considered marrying Albert in 1974 but realised that she would be financially burdened by Albert, as Ena told her that she would receive just £1,250 for a married couple while she already received £775 in pensions as a single occupant. She also found that Albert annoyed her considerably. It was the usually indecisive Minnie who called off their engagement, ending what became one of the Street's best-remembered early storylines.

An old flame, Handel Gartside (Harry Markham), came back to woo her in 1970 after he had made much money in a business venture in Quebec. She flirted with him for a while but he was eventually driven off by crooked business with Billy Walker (son of Annie Walker). In 1970, Minnie's old lodger, Joe Donnelli, came back to the Street and held her at gunpoint, as he became nervous about being prosecuted for the murder of Steve Tanner. Stan Ogden came to Minnie's house, ready to fight with Joe as he had had a dalliance with his daughter Irma. Joe made Stan sing Christmas carols at gunpoint, and eventually Joe shot and killed himself.

In 1976, Handel Gartside returned and Minnie accepted his offer to live with him in Whaley Bridge. She left her friend Ena and was never seen on the programme again. Minnie dies in 1988 and is buried in her hometown of Weatherfield.

In 2008, former lodger Jed Stone reappeared after an absence of over 42 years, clutching a cat, as Minnie often had, and with a framed photo of her in his home. He and Emily Bishop talked about her briefly, where Jed mentioned that he had regretted getting arrested on Minnie's birthday in 1966. Jed also has a box containing photos of him and Minnie. He also visits Minnie's grave.

Leonard Swindley

Main article: Leonard Swindley

May Hardman

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Joan Heath

First appearance

16 December 1960
Episode 3

Last appearance

30 December 1960
Episode 7

Created by

Former; regular (Deceased)

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Classification

Family
Father	Frank Mason
Mother	Madge Mason
Brothers	Edwin Mason
Husband	George Hardman (1930–55)
Daughters	Christine Appleby

May Hardman (née Mason) is the first resident of number 13 Coronation Street along with her daughter Christine Hardman. Prior to the series' start May had spent a few weeks in a psychiatric hospital, but when she returns home in the third episode she starts suffering headaches and eventually dies in her own home on New Year's Eve, in the seventh episode, from what is discovered to be a brain tumour. This is the first death in the history of Coronation Street.^[4]

May Hardman returns from hospital to No.13 and worries what the neighbours will say about her nervous breakdown. May is upset when Christine doesn't want to see her boyfriend Malcolm Wilkinson anymore. May complains of head pains but Christine thinks she's attention seeking. In pain, May tries to summon help over her headaches but dies in the hallway of No.13, where Florrie discovers her. The hospital give her belongings to Christine, among them May's wedding ring. She breaks down in Esther's company.

Lucille Hewitt

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Jennifer Moss

Duration

1960–74

First appearance

21 December 1960
Episode 4

Last appearance

1 July 1974
Episode 1404

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Book appearances

Coronation Street: The Complete Saga

Classification

Profile

Home

Ireland

Family
Father	Harry Hewitt
Mother	Lizzie Hewitt
Stepmother	Concepta Riley
Half brothers	Christopher Hewitt
Grandfathers	Thomas Hewitt
Grandmothers	Mary Hewitt
Aunts	Alice Burgess

Lucille Hewitt is the daughter of widowed bus conductor Harry Hewitt and is the Street's only child character at the show's inception. Lucille had spent several years in an orphanage, but ran away to see her father for Christmas and never went back. In 1961, Harry marries barmaid Concepta Riley and the following year she gives birth to a half-brother for Lucille, Christopher. When Christopher goes missing, a jealous Lucille is blamed. By 1964 the Hewitts had decided to move to Ireland, due the sacking of the actors who played Harry and Concepta. However, Lucille was kept in the series, it is believed due to the intervention of Granada Television boss Cecil Bernstein who thought it would be ridiculous to have a street with no children. In the storyline, Lucille refuses to go to Ireland and she is fostered by Jack and Annie Walker.

By the end of 1968, Lucille is engaged to Gordon Clegg. A wedding is planned for the following year but the storyline had to be dropped when actor Bill Kenwright, who played Gordon, quit the show. Lucille remained at the Rovers Return where she lived with the Walkers, but by 1973 Lucille had tired of Annie's interference. She leaves The Rovers and moves in with Elsie Howard. Lucille leaves the street in 1974 to live in Ireland with her former stepmother Concepta after Gordon returned to the area and she was never seen again.

Concepta Regan (nee Reilly)

Concepta Riley

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Doreen Keogh

Duration

1960–64, 1967, 1972, 1975

First appearance

23 December 1960
Episode 5

Last appearance

31 December 1975
Episode 1561

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Book appearances

Coronation Street: The Complete Saga

Classification

Profile

Other names

Concepta Riley (maiden name)
Concepta Hewitt (1st married name)
Concepta Regan (2nd married name)

Occupation

Barmaid

Residence

Ireland

Family
Father	Sean Riley
Mother	Shelagh Riley
Husband	Harry Hewitt (1961–67) Sean Regan (1972–)
Sons	Christopher Hewitt

Concepta Regan (née Reilly; previously Hewitt) was one of the original characters in Coronation Street, played by Doreen Keogh. Concepta came to Weatherfield from Ireland, and became a resident barmaid at the Rover's Return. Jack and Annie Walker looked upon her as a daughter. In 1961 she started a relationship with Harry Hewitt and after a trip to Blackpool Harry proposed; they married later that year, and Concepta moved into Number 7 Coronation Street with Harry and his daughter Lucille. Harry and Concepta had a son, Christopher, born in 1962. Concepta's biggest storyline in the show was in 1962 when Christopher was kidnapped. The Hewitts decided to move to Ireland in 1964, leaving Lucille in the care of Jack and Annie Walker. Concepta and Harry returned to Weatherfield in 1967 for Elsie Tanner's wedding to Steve Tanner. During their visit to Weatherfield, Harry was killed when the jack slipped and a van under which he was working fell on him. A devastated Concepta returned to Ireland with Christopher. In 1972, Concepta visited Annie and Lucille to tell them that she was getting married to Sean Regan, whom she had met in Ireland. In 1975, the Regans made another visit to Coronation Street, where Sean made a pass at Bet Lynch. Bet threatened to tell Concepta but Annie talked her out of it. Concepta left Weatherfield for the last time unaware of what her husband had done.

Harry Bailey

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Ray Mort

Duration

1960–61, 1962, 1964

First appearance

23 December 1960
Episode 5

Last appearance

16 November 1964
Episode 410

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Classification

Family
Wife	Nellie Fairclough (1963–64)
Stepsons	Stanley Fairclough

Harry Bailey (originally credited as Ron Bailey) is an insurance agent who originally arrives in the Street to investigate May Hardman's health, but usually spends most of his day in the Rovers. He returns briefly in 1962 with a different forename, but no explanation is given for the change. In his final stint in 1964 it transpires that he is in a relationship with Len Fairclough's wife Nellie, who subsequently leaves her husband and the pair flee to Nottingham with Nellie's son Stanley. Harry and Nellie later marry off-screen.

Vera Lomax

Coronation Street character

Portrayed by

Ruth Holden

Duration

1960, 1961, 1963, 1966–67

First appearance

23 December 1960
Episode 5

Last appearance

16 January 1967
Episode 635

Created by

Introduced by

Tony Warren

Classification