Today we're going way back to 1961 in our Christmas countdown.
So join the Barlows, Ena, Minnie, Martha, the Walkers, the Hewitts, Albert Len, Florrie and the Tanners in what was Corrie's first episode to be broadcast on Christmas Day.
It's Friday again so it's time for this week's fab Coronation Street photo. Well done to David S who correctly named all the faces from the past, including Lynsey King who played Sarah Louise Platt mk II. This week we bring you a "villain" from the past. Dave Smith had his fingers in all sorts of pies and left the Street in 1976, taking Blanche Hunt with him. But I'll never forgive him for the way he victimised poor Minnie Caldwell over a £10 debt.
If you remember, last year I had a series of
posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the
1960s, the
1970s, the
1980s, the
1990s and the
2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of
each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next 10 weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next 10 weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next 10 weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next 10 weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next 10 weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.
Well, it's nearly Christmas Day, and today the official Coronation Street website has a video clip from 1961 when Ena Sharples choked on a sixpence in Minnie Caldwell's Christmas pudding.
To those outside of the UK, here's the clip on YouTube.
They've also got a poll asking for your favourite Corrie Christmas moment from the various videos shown over the last month or so.
May I wish you, fellow bloggers and commenters, a Merry Christmas and I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow!
Many Corrie women have become mother figures to various residents over the years. While some are childless, others take individuals under their wing because their children aren’t around or they’re estranged from them or they want to make up from neglecting their own children by mothering others.
Timid widow Minnie Caldwell often took in lodgers as a way to pay the bills and debts she had. And as well as putting a roof over their head at No.5, she also took them under her wing and she looked at them as the sons she never had. Lodgers included Charlie Moffitt, Joe Donnelli and Eddie Yeats but her favourite was Scouser Jed Stone. An ex-con, Jed was the son Minnie never had and she often defended him when Ena Sharples badmouthed him. Jed made a living of working on market stalls and selling various goods like washbasins that rarely lasted in the long term. But loveable Jed was the apple of Minnie’s eye despite his many flaws. Many of the residents saw him as a petty criminal, but he was the sunshine of Minnie’s life and he affectionately called her ‘Ma’ to which she called him ‘Sunny Jim’. He left for Liverpool in 1963 without saying goodbye to Minnie, as he couldn’t bear to break her heart.
He returned in 1966, but after a few months, it transpired that he was on the run from the police for possessing stolen blankets. How crime has changed on the cobbles since then! Worried about devastating Minnie, Jed asked the police to pretend to be his friends. But, deep down Minnie knew and cried. Jed was jailed and later released but although he kept in touch with Minnie, we never saw him on screen with Minnie ever again. When Jed returned briefly to the street in 2008 and lodged with Emily Bishop, he reminisced about Minnie. He had a cat called Sunny Jim, a reminder to older viewers of what Minnie used to call him.
Matronly barmaid Betty Turpin is also remembered for being a mother figure to many– Bet Lynch being the most obvious. Many a time Betty was on hand to comfort Bet when a man let her down. As well as being a comfort, Betty also warned Bet about certain relationships and told her some home truths. Even after marrying Alec Gilroy, it was Betty who Bet turned to for advice and guidance in her marriage. Although Betty had son Gordon, he lived in London, and so Betty took others under her maternal wing. She also took in Bet if she was evicted from her bedsit and when she was robbed in 1980. In 1982, she took in Alec Hobson as a lodger. He lifted her spirits as she hadn’t been invited to Gordon’s wedding to Caroline Wilson. Due to her longevity and experience as a barmaid, Betty took many Rovers barmaids under her wing like Raquel Wolstenhulme, Maria Sutherland and Shelley Unwin. In Maria’s case, Betty told her of her experience of giving Gordon away to her sister Maggie when Maria confided in Betty about her pregnancy.
Like Minnie Caldwell, Emily Bishop has been a mother figure to many by taking them in. Also childless, in 1978 she took in Deirdre Langton and her baby Tracy after hubby Ray left them for Holland. And with the absence of her mother Blanche for many years, Deirdre looked at Emily as a mother figure for many years. As Tracy’s godmother, Emily felt it her duty to look out for her. It’s true to say that Emily played a big part in Tracy’s upbringing unlike her other godmother Betty who rarely had contact with her. Another one who Emily took under her wing was Curly Watts, or as she called him: Norman. He moved in as a lodger in No.3 and although she was initially worried that because of his youth he would bring noise and worry, but Emily found Curly a reliable and considerate young man and a long friendship developed. Even though after moving out, Curly and Emily remained close friends and Emily was always there to help Curly in times of trial. In recent times, Emily has been maternal to young Sophie Webster as she found her Christian faith.
Rita Tanner is another who’s a maternal figure on the cobbles. Also childless, Rita was a foster mother to many children in the 1980s. We first saw her as a mother in 1972 when she looked after Terry and Gail Bates, the children of her common-law husband Harry. She left Harry that year and fell for Len Fairclough. They married in 1977 and they fostered John Spencer in 1981 and Sharon Gaskell in 1982. The Faircloughs formed a stronger relationship with Sharon and they cared deeply for her. Although Sharon left for Sheffield in 1982, she returned in 1999 and yet again Rita, now alone, was on hand to help Sharon and console her when she had relationship problems before Sharon left again.
During Sharon’s hiatus, Rita fostered Jenny Bradley. Although they got off to a rocky start, they formed a strong relationship, cemented by Rita embarking on a relationship with Jenny’s dad Alan. Like with Sharon, Rita shared her experiences with Jenny and helped her on her singing career – although that didn’t last! But their relationship soured when Alan conned Rita and ruined her life and then Jenny left the street in 1991. She returned in 1993 but it seemed she was only after Rita’s inheritance from her recently deceased hubby Ted and she left again, her relationship with Rita damaged. During the 1990s, Rita helped out the Webster family and became a mother figure to Sally and a surrogate grandmother to Rosie and Sophie and since then Sally has confided in Rita with her marital problems and her family sagas. Currently, Rita has taken Tina McIntyre under her wing, and although Tina caused Rita to be kidnapped on her wedding day to Dennis Tanner, they remain firm friends.
While Audrey Roberts has a somewhat strained relationship with daughter Gail and her grandchildren, she has been a maternal figure to many young women who’ve worked at her salon over the years that include Maria Connor, Candice Stowe, Maxine Peacock and Natasha Blakeman.
Kind-hearted Hayley Cropper has also been a shoulder to cry on for many of her colleagues at the factory like Janice, Sean, Julie, Karen and Kelly. She also took in Fiz and Chesney but her strongest relationship was with wayward Becky who returned the favour of Hayley and Roy’s kindness by defending them when they were belittled. Like many mother figures, Hayley has made a cup of tea or coffee for various street residents in a darkened Roy’s Rolls.
Although known for being a femme fatale, Elsie Tanner in her later years was known for taking young girls under her roof. With both Linda and Dennis absent from her life, Elsie took in Gail Potter and Suzie Birchall as lodgers and they kept her on her toes. In the early 1980s, Elsie took in Marion Willis, Eddie Yeats’ wife-to-be and was her confidante when she revealed she was pregnant out of wedlock.
Can you think of any other Corrie mother figures? Vote for your favourite mother figure below. And if you haven't yet, you can vote for your favourite Corrie Lothario here.
As I was browsing through the series of posts about the original characters, I looked at Margot Bryant's profile and noticed that someone (I think Flaming Nora) had inserted a link with Minnie's final appearance.
The video was uploaded only two days ago and it is a pearl. Let's hope that Ena Sharples' and Albert Tatlock's last scenes are also uploaded soon.
In her last scenes, Margot Bryant did have trouble remembering her lines and had to disguise her script behind her handbag or, as in this scene, on the shop counter.
If you're wondering why Rita's rude with her, Elsie Howard had just returned to the street after a three year hiatus and was staying with Len Fairclough. Rita was jealous of their friendship and so she wasn't in the mood for Minnie's dithering over Easter eggs.
Enjoy and let's remember that Corrie legend Minnie Caldwell!
If you want to know about the life and times of Margot Bryant, click here.
Margot Bryant played the role of timid pensioner Minnie Caldwell between 1960 and 1976.
Born in Hull in Yorkshire in 1897, Bryant later moved with her family to London and that’s where her interest in the theatre began. She made her break in The Cure for Love in 1949 where she starred alongside future Corrie co-star Jack Howarth (Albert Tatlock). She also starred in various films, acting alongside the likes of Fred Astaire and Oliver Reed. She also appeared in The Verdict is Yours in 1958.
At 63, she secured the role of 60 year old cat-loving Minnie Caldwell in new drama serial Coronation Street. Minnie’s life revolved her cats Bobby and later Sunny Jim and supping milk stout in the Rovers snug with pals Ena Sharples and Martha Longhurst and was often dominated and bullied by her fellow cronies. Debuting in the second episode, Minnie’s storylines over the years including money problems; a gambling addiction and when she fell into debt she disappeared; being injured in a coach crash; taking in lodgers Charlie Moffitt, Joe Donnelli (who took her hostage at gunpoint), Eddie Yeats and most famously Jed Stone who she saw as a son. Having lost hubby Armistead in 1935 and childless, Minnie dedicated her life to cats. Romance did enter her life though. She was smitten towards old flame Handel Gartside when he visited in 1970 after 30 years in Canada. And in 1973 Albert Tatlock proposed to her in a bid to ease their financial problems. But after three months of engagement, she grew tired of his habits like drinking tea from his saucer and called it off.
By the mid-1970s, Margot Bryant’s health deteriorated as she suffered from memory loss. She appeared regularly until the end of 1975 before making just three appearances in 1976. She recorded her final scenes with long-time colleague Violet Carson with her lines in front of her but hidden by her handbag. Her last scene was in The Kabin and she never appeared again. Over 15 years, she had appeared in 990 episodes in total. Six months after her final appearance in April 1976, Minnie was said to have decided to stay permanently with Handel Gartside in Whaley Bridge who she’d been visiting (this covered Bryant’s absence). Minnie’s house was sold (the last house to have an outside toilet and the only one not privately owned) and Handel Gartside came to collect her things and to tell her friends Ena and Albert she wasn’t returning and gave Minnie, although not memorable, a dignified exit.
Ultimately Margot Bryant was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was admitted to a mental hospital in Cheadle by Stockport where she remained until her death on New Year’s Day 1988 aged 90. She remained unmarried and like her alter-ego was fond of cats. In Coronation Street, Minnie wasn’t officially killed off but in 2008 was said to have died prior to that year, probably around the time of Bryant’s death.
Did you ever see or meet Margot Bryant? Do you have any pieces of trivia about her?
Personally,
I don’t think there’s never been a character like Minnie Caldwell and there
never will be. An original character, she graced the cobbles for 16 years and
although she didn’t have a great effect on the street, viewers think of Minnie
with affection and endearment. Known for her love of cats, Minnie was part of
the trio in the snug with Ena and Martha. A soft touch, she kept lodgers – the
most famous being Jed Stone in the 1960s who fondly called her ‘Ma’. As well as
cats (Bobby and Sunny Jim), Minnie loved betting on the gee-gees and was good
friends with bookie Dave Smith, although she did go missing when she fell into
debt. She often faced financial troubles and in an aim to solve her problems
she accepted Albert Tatlock’s marriage proposal in 1973 but broke it off when
she got tired of his habits. Her closest friend was Ena and their friendship
dated back to their schooldays but Ena tended to dominate timid Minnie. In
1976, she moved to Whaley Bridge to live with old flame Handel Gartside and was
never seen again.
Should
Minnie be at 44? Did you feel sorry for her when she was bullied by Ena? Leave
a comment!
Day 16 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.
1976 saw the arrival of one of the world’s greatest cultural icons, Hilda Ogden’s ‘muriel’. Eddie Yeats was in need of lodgings and approached Hilda about moving into her back bedroom. Hilda agreed to the proposal on the condition that Eddie help Stan redecorate her back parlour. Ever the scheming wheeler-dealer, Eddie acquired a job lot of old wallpaper buy halfway through hanging it, discovered that four of the rolls were faded because it was old stock. Hilda was furious about her ruined room but Eddie came to the rescue when he got hold of a wallpaper mural of the Canadian Rockies. Hilda was instantly smitten and invited all the neighbours round to view the scene. Annie Walker had this to say: ‘You know dear, I feel just a little giddy. Would you mind if I sat facing the other way until I’m acclimatised?’ 2 years later the mountain scene was replaced by a seascape after Stan let the bath overflow and it was damaged by water.
This year saw the last appearance of Minnie Caldwell. Minnie was quiet and timid and was always being bossed around by her friend Ena Sharples, who she was regularly to be found with in the Snug at the Rovers Return drinking milk stout along with Martha Longhurst. Though Minnie once said of Ena "She bullies me. She always has... in the name of Christianity", they were always there for each other and whenever Ena was ill, or was unable or unwilling to live at the Mission, Minnie provided her with a bed. Minnie lived round the corner from Coronation Street at 15 Jubilee Terrace, but when her bed-ridden mother died in 1962 at the ripe old age of 94, she decided she could no longer live there and with the help of Leonard Swindley, who spoke to the landlord and agreed a fair rent, she moved in to no. 5.
Having retired from Earnshaw's Mill in 1960, Minnie began to take in lodgers to help supplement her pension. Many came and went, some staying a few days, others years, but her favourites were petty crook Jed Stone and failed comic Charlie Moffitt. Jed came and went but he finally left when he was sentenced to 18 months in Walton. Despite never returning, Jed's place in Minnie's heart was reaffirmed when Bobby disappeared and was replaced by a stray found up on the viaduct, which Minnie called 'Sunny Jim' - though she later re-named him Bobby.
Having stopped taking in lodgers, Minnie's biggest worry continued to be money, both the lack of it and decimalisation. Albert Tatlock thought that he had the answer to both their money problems and popped the question. Minnie was quite keen on the idea as long as Albert moved into No. 5, but insisted that he ask Ena's permission first, as is only right and proper. Ena got the wrong end of the stick and accepted Albert's proposal on her own behalf. Minnie and Albert came to an understanding, but then Ena told them that they wouldn't be better off financially as they had thought and although Albert was still willing to go through with the marriage if Minnie was, his irritating habits, like drinking his tea from a saucer, had started to get on her nerves and so they called it off. Jed Stone's Walton cell-mate, Eddie Yeats, turned up on her doorstep and out of friendship for her old lodger, she took him in but Minnie's health was deteriorating and after meeting up again with Handel Gartside, she finally retired with Bobby to Whaley Bridge to keep house for him.
"I know folk think I'm simple. What I say to them is that I'd rather be simple and 'ave my pleasures than know everything and be miserable, like Ena."
Also in 1976: Stan Ogden and Albert Tatlock get locked in the Rovers’ cellar; Renee Bradshaw buys the corner shop; Elsie Howard returns; Mike Baldwin arrives and sets up a factory; Mavis Riley meets Derek Wilton; Bill Podmore starts work as producer with the promise to introduce more comedy; Gail Potter falls for Roy Thornley who turns out to be married.
Day 10 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.
Christmas 1970 saw the conclusion of a story that had started some 2 years earlier. When Steve Tanner had been found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs in September 1968 there had been no evidence to condemn anybody of foul play. In November Joe Donnelli, a friend of Steve Tanner’s from the American base at Burtonwood turned up on Coronation Street and lodged with Minnie Caldwell. A dangerous and violent man who enjoyed going to war, he locked Irma Barlow in the flat above the shop and confessed to how he had murdered Steve over a gambling debt. Threatening her with a pair of scissors he told her he would not let her share her secret with anyone.
For over two weeks he kept her in a constant state of fear as his prisoner in the shop. Knowing something was amiss, some of the residents lured them both to the Rovers, having called the Military Police. Joe escaped and went to no. 5 where he held a terrified Minnie at gunpoint. Unaware of the gun, Stan Ogden crashed into the house to deal with the ‘damn Yank’ who had threatened his daughter, Irma. Joe let Minnie go but held turned his gun on Stan. As the end credits rolled on Christmas Eve, a single shot rang out and viewers had to wait until after the festivities to find out that Joe had shot himself and for once in his life, Stan was the hero. In June 1970, the 1000th episode was transmitted. John Braine, author of Room at the Top wrote in a TV Times supplement: ‘The most important character in the Street is the Street itself. No matter who comes and goes, the Street remains.’ Words that still hold true as we head towards the 50th anniversary.
By 1970, the programme had been broadcast in ten other countries including Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Holland, Greece and Sierra Leone, where it was voted the most watched television series, although there were only 3000 TV sets in the country.
Also in 1970: David Barlow & son Darren die in Australia; Elsie Tanner and Alan Howard marry; Dave Smith arrives; Bet starts work at the Rovers; Stan Ogden sells some of Ena Sharples’ songs to club singer Mickey Malone; Handel Gartside romances Minnie Caldwell.
In response to the post about Stephen Hancock (Ernest Bishop) earlier in the week, John M told us that the storyline of Ernest's murder was his earliest Corrie memory. Back when we broke the news of the planned tram crash, I said that the train crash back in 1967 was my earliest memory. It was certainly the first major story I remember though I have a vague memory, aren't they all nowadays, of Ena and Minnie walking down the street with Ena urging Minnie to hurry up as she was dawdling to avoid stepping on the cracks in the pavement.
So, Coronation Street blog readers, what are your earliest memories of goings on down our favourite street?
Many Corrie women have become mother figures to various residents over the years. While some are childless, others take individuals under their wing because their children aren’t around or they’re estranged from them or they want to make up from neglecting their own children by mothering others.
Matronly barmaid Betty Turpin is also remembered for being a mother figure to many– Bet Lynch being the most obvious. Many a time Betty was on hand to comfort Bet when a man let her down. As well as being a comfort, Betty also warned Bet about certain relationships and told her some home truths. Even after marrying Alec Gilroy, it was Betty who Bet turned to for advice and guidance in her marriage. Although Betty had son Gordon, he lived in London, and so Betty took others under her maternal wing. She also took in Bet if she was evicted from her bedsit and when she was robbed in 1980. In 1982, she took in Alec Hobson as a lodger. He lifted her spirits as she hadn’t been invited to Gordon’s wedding to Caroline Wilson. Due to her longevity and experience as a barmaid, Betty took many Rovers barmaids under her wing like Raquel Wolstenhulme, Maria Sutherland and Shelley Unwin. In Maria’s case, Betty told her of her experience of giving Gordon away to her sister Maggie when Maria confided in Betty about her pregnancy.
Like Minnie Caldwell, Emily Bishop has been a mother figure to many by taking them in. Also childless, in 1978 she took in Deirdre Langton and her baby Tracy after hubby Ray left them for Holland. And with the absence of her mother Blanche for many years, Deirdre looked at Emily as a mother figure for many years. As Tracy’s godmother, Emily felt it her duty to look out for her. It’s true to say that Emily played a big part in Tracy’s upbringing unlike her other godmother Betty who rarely had contact with her. Another one who Emily took under her wing was Curly Watts, or as she called him: Norman. He moved in as a lodger in No.3 and although she was initially worried that because of his youth he would bring noise and worry, but Emily found Curly a reliable and considerate young man and a long friendship developed. Even though after moving out, Curly and Emily remained close friends and Emily was always there to help Curly in times of trial. In recent times, Emily has been maternal to young Sophie Webster as she found her Christian faith.
Rita Tanner is another who’s a maternal figure on the cobbles. Also childless, Rita was a foster mother to many children in the 1980s. We first saw her as a mother in 1972 when she looked after Terry and Gail Bates, the children of her common-law husband Harry. She left Harry that year and fell for Len Fairclough. They married in 1977 and they fostered John Spencer in 1981 and Sharon Gaskell in 1982. The Faircloughs formed a stronger relationship with Sharon and they cared deeply for her. Although Sharon left for Sheffield in 1982, she returned in 1999 and yet again Rita, now alone, was on hand to help Sharon and console her when she had relationship problems before Sharon left again. 
While Audrey Roberts has a somewhat strained relationship with daughter Gail and her grandchildren, she has been a maternal figure to many young women who’ve worked at her salon over the years that include Maria Connor, Candice Stowe, Maxine Peacock and Natasha Blakeman. 
Although known for being a femme fatale, Elsie Tanner in her later years was known for taking young girls under her roof. With both Linda and Dennis absent from her life, Elsie took in Gail Potter and Suzie Birchall as lodgers and they kept her on her toes. In the early 1980s, Elsie took in Marion Willis, Eddie Yeats’ wife-to-be and was her confidante when she revealed she was pregnant out of wedlock.
Personally,
I don’t think there’s never been a character like Minnie Caldwell and there
never will be. An original character, she graced the cobbles for 16 years and
although she didn’t have a great effect on the street, viewers think of Minnie
with affection and endearment. Known for her love of cats, Minnie was part of
the trio in the snug with Ena and Martha. A soft touch, she kept lodgers – the
most famous being Jed Stone in the 1960s who fondly called her ‘Ma’. As well as
cats (Bobby and Sunny Jim), Minnie loved betting on the gee-gees and was good
friends with bookie Dave Smith, although she did go missing when she fell into
debt. She often faced financial troubles and in an aim to solve her problems
she accepted Albert Tatlock’s marriage proposal in 1973 but broke it off when
she got tired of his habits. Her closest friend was Ena and their friendship
dated back to their schooldays but Ena tended to dominate timid Minnie. In
1976, she moved to Whaley Bridge to live with old flame Handel Gartside and was
never seen again.
One
of Corrie’s most well remembered and popular characters. He was introduced as
the boss of Curly Watts at Bettabuys supermarket and a new double act was born.
Amongst the comedy scenes that Reg was involved in included wearing a toupee to
attract the ladies and when his waterbed was accidentally punctured by Derek
Wilton, dampening his romantic evening with fiancée Maureen Naylor. An unlikely
Romeo, Reg had many romances that ranged from supermarket inspector Renee Dodds
to Rita Fairclough and Bet Gilroy. In 1993, he met up with old flame Maureen
and married her the following year. A thorn in Reg’s side during their marriage
was mother in law Maud Grimes – an echo of the Ivy/Gail saga. As well as the
supermarket, Reg owned the Corner Shop between 1994 and 1996 with Maureen and
Maud managing it. They led a blissful life until Reg had an affair and moved to
Lowestoft. 
1976 saw the arrival of one of the world’s greatest cultural icons, Hilda Ogden’s ‘muriel’. Eddie Yeats was in need of lodgings and approached Hilda about moving into her back bedroom. Hilda agreed to the proposal on the condition that Eddie help Stan redecorate her back parlour. Ever the scheming wheeler-dealer, Eddie acquired a job lot of old wallpaper buy halfway through hanging it, discovered that four of the rolls were faded because it was old stock. Hilda was furious about her ruined room but Eddie came to the rescue when he got hold of a wallpaper mural of the Canadian Rockies. Hilda was instantly smitten and invited all the neighbours round to view the scene. Annie Walker had this to say: ‘You know dear, I feel just a little giddy. Would you mind if I sat facing the other way until I’m acclimatised?’ 2 years later the mountain scene was replaced by a seascape after Stan let the bath overflow and it was damaged by water.
This year saw the last appearance of Minnie Caldwell. Minnie was quiet and timid and was always being bossed around by her friend Ena Sharples, who she was regularly to be found with in the Snug at the Rovers Return drinking milk stout along with Martha Longhurst. Though Minnie once said of Ena "She bullies me. She always has... in the name of Christianity", they were always there for each other and whenever Ena was ill, or was unable or unwilling to live at the Mission, Minnie provided her with a bed. Minnie lived round the corner from Coronation Street at 15 Jubilee Terrace, but when her bed-ridden mother died in 1962 at the ripe old age of 94, she decided she could no longer live there and with the help of Leonard Swindley, who spoke to the landlord and agreed a fair rent, she moved in to no. 5.
Christmas 1970 saw the conclusion of a story that had started some 2 years earlier. When Steve Tanner had been found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs in September 1968 there had been no evidence to condemn anybody of foul play. In November Joe Donnelli, a friend of Steve Tanner’s from the American base at Burtonwood turned up on Coronation Street and lodged with Minnie Caldwell. A dangerous and violent man who enjoyed going to war, he locked Irma Barlow in the flat above the shop and confessed to how he had murdered Steve over a gambling debt. Threatening her with a pair of scissors he told her he would not let her share her secret with anyone. 
In June 1970, the 1000th episode was transmitted. John Braine, author of Room at the Top wrote in a TV Times supplement: ‘The most important character in the Street is the Street itself. No matter who comes and goes, the Street remains.’ Words that still hold true as we head towards the 50th anniversary. 
In response to the post about Stephen Hancock (Ernest Bishop) earlier in the week, John M told us that the storyline of Ernest's murder was his earliest Corrie memory. Back when we broke the news of the planned tram crash, I said that the train crash back in 1967 was my earliest memory. It was certainly the first major story I remember though I have a vague memory, aren't they all nowadays, of Ena and Minnie walking down the street with Ena urging Minnie to hurry up as she was dawdling to avoid stepping on the cracks in the pavement.
