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Stan has withdrawn £40 without telling her.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.