Coronation Street Blog: Lesley Eames' Corrie autographs

Lesley Eames is a novelist whose latest book Silver Ladies of London was shortlisted in the Historical Romance category of the Romantic Novelists' Association's Romantic Novel Awards earlier this year.

Lesley is also a huge Corrie fan and writes below about her early memories of the show. She has also kindly shared some of her Corrie autographs, pictured above. Read on to find out more about Lesley's memories of the show AND you can enter a special competition to win a signed copy of Silver Ladies of London!

When ‘Coronation Street’ became ‘real’
by Lesley Eames

I was a small child in Manchester when the first episode of Coronation Street aired in 1960. In the years that followed, the programme and its stars became household names in my home as in countless others. Coronation Street reflected life for many of us – terraced houses, cobbled back alleys, corner shops, clashing neighbours, endless cups of tea… Many of the characters reflected the Northern grit I saw around me too, the women especially being strong, brave, witty and outspoken, but often with hearts of gold.

My younger sister and I had never met anyone who’d been on the telly until one day when word went round our neighbourhood that scenes from Coronation Street were being filmed nearby. We rushed along to watch and took an autograph book with us. It was strange seeing television stars in real, colourful life when we’d only seen them on a black and white telly before. Exciting too!

The stars were friendly and many of them were kind enough to sign our autograph book, including Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), Pat Phoenix (Elsie Tanner), Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden) and Bernard Youens (Stan Ogden).

These days I write stories for women’s magazines and I also write novels such as, The Silver Ladies of London, a saga set in the 1920s. My lead characters – Grace, Jenny, Lydia and Ruth – go through heartache but they’re also brave and kind. How could they not be when I grew up surrounded by wonderful characters in real life and in ‘Coronation Street’?

PS I still drink HUGE quantities of tea.

COMPETITION TIME

To be in with a chance to win a signed copy of Silver Ladies of London by Lesley Eames, all you have to do is visit Lesley's website to find the answer to the question below. Then, fill in the competition entry form which you'll find on the right hand side of this blog (you'll need to view the blog in full web mode to see the entry form). Leave your name, email address and your answer in the 'message box'. We'll put all correct entries into the draw and pick one winner who will be announced here on the Blog. Deadline for entries is Thursday 18th April 2019 at 5pm. Sorry, overseas fans, this competition prize can be sent to a UK address only.

Here's your question, good luck!

Q: In what year is Silver Ladies of London novel set?

Web: www.lesleyeames.com
Facebook: www.facebook.co/LesleyEamesWriter
Twitter: @LesleyEames

Glenda Young
Author: Belle of the Back Streets

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