Bud Ralston

1. Minne
2. Edith

Children:

Contact:

Played: Wilf Bottomley (19 December 1977 - 29 November 1978; 10 August 1983)

Frank's great-niece writes:
"You have listed as one of your actors Bud Ralston, who played Wilf Bottomly. This gentleman's real name is Frank Tipping. He retired from "the street" when he was in his late eighties. The last time I saw him in a speaking role was Uncle Albert's 88th birthday party. This gentleman is my great uncle, and I last saw him when visiting "home" in 1993.

He is currently in a nursing home near Manchester, though I believe he still has all his wits about him, and can rhyme off jokes as quick as anyone else. His first wife Minnie died around 1976, and in 1977 he remarried, a Canadian lady, Edith who had married an Englishman during the war and was subsequently widowed. Bud and Edith lived near Salford, and until about 5 years ago, still visited Canada every year to see Edith's son and daughter.

I am an avid Coronation Street fan partly because of Uncle Bud, but mainly beacuse it's such a fantastic show. I emigrated to Canada with my parents when I was just a child in 1957, but still have family and friends in England.

Bud was on Coronation Street as a non-speaking extra right from the very first episode. In fact, according to an article I received a while ago from Granada Studios, he was the very first person you saw in that first show. He then remained on the show for many years, probably until around 15 years ago, though most of the time was just sitting in the Rovers. I enjoyed watching because I would catch sight of him weekly sitting behind the bar, and it was a great way to keep up with my roots "over 'ome"."

In late 1989, Bud was awarded the French Legion d'Honour in recognition of reaching his century and his service in WWI.

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