1962

January
Ken Barlow writes a controversial article for a left wing review, Survival, criticizing the working classes. The Manchester Evening News reprints it as 'Life In Northern Back Street' and angry locals recognise themselves, thinly disguised. High-minded Ken accuses them of being unambitious and starved of culture. Len Fairclough calls it rubbish and punches him on the jaw in the Rovers.

February
Ena makes peace with Leonard Swindley and returns to life in the Vestry. Harry Hewitt exchanges his whippets for a greyhound called Lucky Lolita, which wins at 10-1. A coach trip eagerly sets out from the Rovers for the next White City race. Everyone bets £10 to win, but Lolita is not so lucky - they lose everythlng

March
Ena is found collapsed in the Vestry suffering from another slight stroke. Wayward Dennis Tanner quits his job as compere at the Orinoco night-club and leaves for London with his girlfriend, snake-dancer Eunice 'La Comosita' Bond.

April
Len Fairclough is sacked from J. Birtwistle and Sons when nosey Martha Longhurst reports him for doing 'foreigners'. He buys the yard behind Martha's Mawdesley Street home, and starts his own business.

May
Billy Walker announces his engagement to Finsbury beauty queen Phillipa Scopes who is considered rather 'posh'. They part two weeks later by mutual agreement.

Ena Sharples fights a council proposal to rename the Street 'Florida Street', and writes a protest letter to Prince Philip. She receives a reply, but does not reveal its contents. Esther Hayes leaves the Street and moves into a flat in Moor Lane.

June
Christine Hardman, jilted by local plumber Joe Makinson, has a nervous breakdown. Ken Barlow gently talks her down from the roof of the raincoat factory. Three weeks later she elopes with Colin Appleby.

Doreen Lostock is now working at Gamma Garments, and shares a flat over the corner shop with Sheila Birtles. Bill Gregory, home from the sea in uniform, resumes his relationship with Elsie Tanner. Len Fairclough warns him to tell Elsie he is married, but he says nothing.

July
Ken Barlow announces his engagement to Valerie Tatlock, and Bill Gregory's wife turns up at Elsie's. The affair breaks up and the chief petty officer goes home to mend his marriage. Minnie Caldwell's mother dies at their home in Jubilee Terrace. Ena affirms her belief in cremation. Jerry Booth, who lives with his mother in Viaduct Street, signs on as an apprentice for Len Fairclough. He served his time with Len's old boss, Joe White of Bessie Street.

The Telstar satellite is launched, and ever-watchful Martha Longhurst scans the night sky over Coronation Street. Annie Walker renews a holiday friendship when he dapper Mr Fosythe-Jones, whom she met in Babbacombe, drops in at the Rovers. Ken makes the supreme sacrifice and sells his scooter to pay for his wedding.

August
Ken and Valerie marry and leave for honeymoon in London. Another birth in the Street: Harry and Concepta Hewirt have a son, Christopher, 7lb 3oz.

Minnie Caldwell moves into Nº5, Esther Hayes' old house, with Bobbie her tabby cat. Among her belongings is a china cat named Felix, which she won at Albert Croft Fair in 1921. The head is broken off, but Minnie can't bear to part with it.

September
Leonard Swindley goes into politics as founder and chairman of the Property Owners and Small Traders Party. Ken Barlow treads new ground too - his first novel is rejected by a publisher. Elsie has been going out with artful bookie Dave Smith. Len, who strongly disapproves, assaults him and is bound over for twelve rnonths.

October
Baby Christopher Hewit is kidnapped from outside Gamma Garments on Harry and Concepta's wedding anniversary. He was left outside in his pram by Lucille. Elsie tracks down the baby and recovers him from a stranger, Joan Akers. The drama earns Coronation Street the highest viewing figures in television history.

As Jack and Annie Walker celebrate their Silver Wedding, Colin Appley is killed in a car crash. His devasted widow Christine returns to lodge with Elsie. Officious Albert Tatlock starts work as lollipop man on the crossing near Bessie Street School.

November
Christine Appleby takes a job at Miami Modes and strikes up a relationshp with quiet, pipe-smoking widower Frank Barlow. Linda and Ivan Cheveski return home from Canada for Christmas, and Minnie Caldwell takes in a Liverpudlian lodger, Jed Stone. Leonard Swindley is hard on the election trail for the Property Owners and Small Traders Party. Result: bottom of the poll.

December
Showtime in the Street: residents appear in Lady Lawson Loses, produced by Leonard Swindley at the Mission. As Christmas approaches Len Fairclough's wife Nellie leves him for Harry Bailey, taking their son Stanley with her. Ken Barlow hands in his notice at Bessie Street School to embark on a full-time career as a writer, but withdraws after second thoughts.

The Street encounters its first racial problem. Black bus conductor Johnny Alexander accuses Len Fairlough of fare dodging. Len denies it and reports him to bus inspector Harry Hewitt. When the conductor is suspended, Len confesses that he had not paid his fare. Johnny refuses to take back his job on principle, despite a visit from Concepta begging him to reconsider. Jack and Annie decorate the Rovers for Christmas.


Written by Graham Nown
© Graham Nown, 1985. Reproduced with permission. Do not reproduce this without permission.

 

corrie.net

Back to updates
index page

Back to corrie.net