1984

January
Elsie Tanner appears for the last time. Her old flame Bill Gregory takes her for a night out and asks her to go back to Portugal with him. At the last moment Elsie rings his London hotel and says she is on her way. When the taxi-driver asks her how long she will be gone, Elsie gives a Mona Lisa smile and replies: 'Now there's a question.'

Stan injures his foot on a broken paving stone and decides to sue the council. Ken backs his claim by publishing a close-up of Stan's big toe in the Recorder. lvy is summoned to hospital to find that Bert has died. Mike Baldwin sells his share in the Graffiti Club when he finds that the books are being fiddled.

February
Stan accepts £200 compensation from the council. Percy draws the winning ticket when Fred raffles his Rover. Fred is incensed when Kevin Webster buys it for banger-racing. Kevin's father Bill rents Len's old yard from Rita and sets up as a repairman. Annie, who is absent, telephones the Rovers and tells a horrified Bet and Betty that she is putting Fred in charge as temporary manager. On his first day Fred tries to increase business by buying pies. He eats one and becomes violently ill.

March
Hilda receives her first bank statement and is livid to find that Stan has withdrawn £40 without telling her. Kevin Webster agrees to give Mavis driving lessons for £2 an hour, but gives it up as 'suicidal'. Belligerent Billy Walker comes home to run the Rovers while Fred is in hospital, and offends everyone. Bill Webster borrows £1,000 from Rita to finance his property repair business and makes Alf jealous. Emily finds out that Bill is known to the police and has his job repairing the Chapel roof cancelled. Ivy upsets admirer Arthur Whitaker as she is not ready for a serious relationship yet.

April
The Rovers stand-in manager Frank Harvey invites Bet to a brewery dance when the new barmaid turns him down. Bet turns up dressed as a tramp to strike a blow for Women's Lib. Curly Watts is depressed at his lack of success with girls, and organizes a canal cruise. Ken becomes entangled with the problems of one of his advice column clients. The TV detector van calls at the Duckworth's. Jack admits that they have no licence, and is relieved to find that Vera is responsible because it is in her name.

May
Alf Roberts, on the campaign trial, is re-elected to the council. Gail and Brian make up a foursome with friends for a night out at a casino. Gail is upset when Brian loses money at the tables. Relief manager Gordon Lewis takes over the Rovers and introduces a disciplinary regime. Albert Tatlock's daughter Beattie arrives with news that Albert has died. She gives Ken her father's Military Medal after the funeral. Billy Walker is back at the Rovers. He finds life dull and starts a poker school and pesters Deirdre. The Duckworths are fined £150 for the TV offence, instead of the £250 they expected. They get drunk to celebrate, and Jack falls over the TV set, smashing it.

June
Mavis passes her driving test and, after a celebratory drink, reverses into Jack Duckworth's taxi. Bill Webster buys Elsie's house, but has trouble persuading Elsie's daughter, Linda Cheveski, to move out. Amateur astronomer Curly Watts sights a UFO and is interviewed on Radio Weatherfield. Billy Walker's sophisticated girlfriend Samantha Benson turns up from Jersey to tell him that his creditors are waiting for their cash.

July
The Rovers Return takes on the Flying Horse in the Pub Olympics. Hilda wins the egg and spoon race after Vera is disqualified for pushing. At the ensuing Talent Contest, Vera and Ivy sing We're a Couple of Swells, and Billy Walker asks Emily to lend him £6,000. When a solicitor appears bearing a final demand, Billy leaves to ask Annie for money. Betty, looking after the Rovers in his absence, hears a noise in the night. She turns on the light to find the front door ajar, and a half-consumed pint of beer gently quivering on the bar.

August
Derek Wilton takes Mavis for an Italian meal and swears he will prove just how much he has changed. They become engaged, but Mavis' old flame Victor gatecrashes the party to announce that he has not given up the fight for her hand. Billy Walker returns and tells the staff that he is taking over the Rovers. He goads Fred into punching him on the jaw so that he can fire him. Gail, against Brian and Ivy's advice, takes over the cafe when the manageress retires. Percy Sugden loses Randy, his budgie, and offers £10 reward. Jack Duckworth buys a budgie for £2, and tries to con him, but Percy has already found his pet.

September
When the Corner Shop is robbed, Percy organizes a citizens' home-watch, and is arrested as a suspected peeping tom. Victor has conceded defeat, and Mavis' wedding day arrives. Mavis realizes she cannot marry Derek, and that she never really loved him. Rita tells the vicar, and bumps into the best man who is delivering an identical message from Derek. Ken appears jealous when his Recorder assistant Sally Waterman stays the night at the Rovers with Billy Walker.

October
Mavis is insulted that Derek did not turn up for the wedding - and prepares to face people. Ken falls in love with Recorder reporter Sally Waterman, who is dating Billy Walker, but both Billy and Deirdre are suspicious.

Jack Duckworth, breathalysed after celebrating Vera's £250 bingo win, is banned for a year and fined £200. He loses his job taxi-driving, but the future looks inviting on the dole - until he learns he cannot claim benefit. Jack sells shirts on the market. Betty Turpin takes in a police lodger, Sergeant Tony Cunliffe, who makes an arresting impression on Bet Lynch. Brian Tilsley throws out his mother-in-law' lover, George Hepworth, after discovering he made a pass at Gail. There is friction when Brian thinks Gail has not told him just how far George went.

November
Fred Gee poses as Mike Baldwin to sell shirts with Jack. They collect a £400 cheque - made out to Mike. He agrees to cash it, deducting 30 per cent for income tax. Tony Cunliffe breaks with Bet and sets his sights on a reluctant Rita. Hilda collapses from the strain of nursing sick Stan, and the doctor sends him to hospital. Police raid a Rovers late drinks session.

Hilda is shattered by a phone call telling her Stan is dead. The grave's headstone, on her instructions, has space for two names. Hilda weeps over the parcel of Stan's belongings sent from the hospltal. Fred Gee, working at Baldwins, is given the sack and leaves the Street.

December
Vera buys Stan's window-cleaning round for £100 and sends Jack, complaining, out to work. He enjoys the job when he meets friendly Dulcie Froggart, but Vera thinks he is exhausted through overwork. Billy Walker, carpeted by the brewery, gives up the tenancy, and leaves the Street for Jersey. Newton & Ridley advertise for a manager for the Rovers - Bet, Jack Duckworth and temporary manager Gordon Lewis all apply.

Despite Percy Sugden's protestations, romance blossoms between his niece, Elaine Prior, and Bill Webster. They plan to marry and move to Southampton, but Kevin Webster is upset and refuses to go. Rita and Tony end their relationship when he realizes she cannot get over Len's death.


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

 

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