50 Years Of Corrie In 50 Days – 1985

Day 25 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.

Annie Walker’s retirement had left a vacuum at the Rovers. Fred Gee had a disastrous time as temporary manager when he began to cut corners and he was replaced by relief manager Frank Harvey when he contracted pneumonia and he left to be nursed by his sister. Billy Walker returned to take control but he left under a cloud after he racked up some large debts and Mike Baldwin threatened to expose him to the police over some of his dodgy dealings.

The permanent manager of the Rovers soon became Bet Lynch who, supported by the locals, beat off competition from Gordon Lewis. While Bet was given training in the art of the licensee by Newton & Ridley, Frank Harvey came back as relief manager and employed Gloria Todd as barmaid. On returning from her training, the first thing Bet did was sack her. While on holiday in Blackpool with Rita and Mavis, Bet befriended hotel barman Frank Mills who followed her back to Weatherfield. The pair went off on an impromptu Norwegian cruise together and the brewery had to make Betty Turpin temporary manageress. They also reemployed Gloria Todd as permanent barmaid and when Bet returned from her jaunt up the fjords, the brewery put her on probation and she had to swallow her pride and knuckle down to running the pub.

Audrey Potter returned to Weatherfield and told her daughter Gail that the time had come for her to settle down. She decided that the best catch around was mini-mart (formerly corner shop) owner, Alf Roberts and set about winning his heart. Alf had recently been turned down by Rita Fairclough, who would always be his true love, and so he succumbed quite easily to Audrey’s charms. They married two days before Christmas and spent their honeymoon in Paris.

Alf was happy to be seen with such a desirable woman on his arm, especially at council functions and Audrey was happy to be financially secure and to be able to turn shopping into a hobby rather than the occasional treat. But in their own ways they were very fond of each other and although Audrey would flirt outrageously with any good looking men she came across, she was never actually unfaithful to her dear Alf.

Also in 1985: The Clayton family arrive; Bill Webster marries Elaine Prior; Jack Duckworth becomes the Rovers’ cellar man; Susan Barlow starts working for her father at the Recorder and starts seeing Mike Baldwin; Terry Duckworth gets Andrea Clayton pregnant; Gail and Brian Tilsley move out of Ivy’s; George Wardle proposes to Ivy; the Clayton family leave.