List of past Coronation Street characters (1960-1969)

The following is a list of fictional characters that appeared in the ITV soap opera "Coronation Street", departing between 1960 and 1969.

B

Ida Barlow

Ida Barlow (née Leathers), played by Noel Dyson) was married to postman Frank and they had two sons Ken and David Barlow. Ken later became a teacher and David a footballer. Ida was a caring, "saintly" woman. When her elderly mother, Nancy Leathers grew ill she had Nancy come and live with her family. Ida worked in the kitchen at the Imperial Hotel. Ida was killed on 11 September 1961 after being struck by a bus while walking home from work. Her funeral episode (aired 12 September 1961) attracted 15.6 million viewers, the most watched episode of Coronation Street up to that time.Fact|date=February 2007

Myra Booth

Myra Booth (played by Susan Jameson) married Jerry Booth in 1963 and they set up home at number 13 Coronation Street. However, after getting into debt, the marriage soon fell apart. Myra returned to the Street in 1968 and wanted a reconciliation with Jerry, but he refused to have her back.

Alice Burgess

Alice Burgess (played by Avis Bunnage) was Harry Hewitt's sister who arrived in the Street to look after his daughter Lucille Hewitt. She appeared during 1961.

C

Ivan Cheveski

Ivan Cheveski (played by Ernst Walder) was Polish, and lived at number 9 Coronation Street with his wife, Linda and next door to his mother-in-law,Elsie Tanner. Ivan was a Barman at the Rovers Return.

Les Clegg

Les Clegg (played by John Sharp) and his wife Maggie bought the Corner Shop from David Barlow in 1968. Les was an alcoholic, and this lead to the breakup of his marriage; Maggie divorced Les in 1969.

usan Cunningham

Susan Cunningham (played by Patricia Shakesby) attended university with Ken Barlow and became his first girlfriend. She appeared in the very first episode of "Coronation Street" and made her last appearance in early 1961.

D

Norah Dawson

Norah Dawson (played by Avril Angers) was Arnold Tanner's lady friend who owned a Sweet shop in Weatherfield, she arrived in Coronation Street with Arnold when he was seeking a divorce from Elsie Tanner, Norah thought she was a better class than anyone who lived on Coronation Street and during an argument with Elsie she called her 'Common', whenever Elsie referred to Norah she called her 'Madame Toffee shop'. Norah appeared in 1961.

G

Dot Greenhalgh

Dot Greenhalgh (played by Joan Francis) was not a resident on Coronation Street but she appeared from 1961–1969 and was married to the rarely seen Walt Greenhalgh. She worked at Miami Modes with her friend Elsie Tanner, and she made appearances in the Street for various occasions including the Rovers Return outing to Blackpool, weddings and various parties. She was the judge at the Christmas fancy dress party in 1966. A shoplifting incident at Miami Modes, in 1969, ended her friendship with Elsie, she put the blame on Elsie for stealing some dresses.

H

Christine Hardman

Christine Hardman (played by Christine Hargreaves) lived at number 13 Coronation Street with her mother May Hardman. During her time on the street she worked at Elliston's Raincoat Factory along with Sheila Birtiles. Christine married Colin Appleby, but he died in a car crash, after her marriage Christine lodged with Elsie Tanner and had a relationship with the much older Frank Barlow, but it didn't last long. Christine left Coronation Street in 1963. She was also known for her confrontation with Ena Sharples in Florrie Lindley's Corner Shoppe after she said some nasty things about her mother; and threatening the pensioner with a solicitor's letter. Among the witnesses were Mrs. Lindley and her predecessor, Mrs. Lappin.

May Hardman

May Hardman (played by Joan Heath) was the first resident of number 13 Coronation Street along with her daughter Christine Hardman. May's was the first death in the series, when she collapsed from a brain tumor in 1960.

Harry Hewitt

Harry Hewitt (portrayed by actor Ivan Beavis) had a daughter, Lucille Hewitt, who he had put into an orphanage after his wife died. When his sister, Alice Burgess, came to stay, he decided that Lucille should stay with him. After Alice left, Harry found love with Concepta Riley, who gave birth to Christopher Hewitt. There was a panic when Christopher was kidnapped, but Elsie Tanner found out who the culprit was, Joan Akers. Concepta then became worried with Christoper's health, and after much nagging Harry, Concepta and Christopher moved to Ireland. However, Lucille decided to stay to sit her exams, but stayed for later than planned in the end. Harry, Concepta and Christoper returned in 1967, but Harry died after his van fell on him when the jack slipped.

L

Elsie Lappin

Elsie Lappin was a fictional character on Coronation Street, (played by Maudie Edwards) spoke the first words in the first episode, broadcast on December 9 1960. Lappin was the soon-to-depart owner of the corner shop and was seen introducing new owner Florrie Lindley to the various neighbours. During that two-day time, she and Florrie ended up friends and was also witness to a row between Ena Sharples and Christine Hardman.

Nancy Leathers

Nancy Leathers (played by Norah Hammond) was mother to resident Ida Barlow and grandmother to Ken Barlow and David Barlow. Nancy lived with the Barlows for sometime during 1961 before moving into an OAP bungalow, she attended Ken Barlow & Valerie Tatlock's wedding in 1962.

Florrie Lindley

Florence "Florrie" Lena Lindley (played by Betty Alberge) appeared in "Coronation Street" from 1960 to 1965. In the first episode of the series kind and friendly Florrie took over the corner shop at No. 15 from its previous owner, Elsie Lappin. During that two-day period when Elsie helped her out, they became friends. In fact, her first day as the Corner Shop proprietor, she was witness to a row between Ena Sharples (whom she thought of as morbid) and Christine Hardman. She was generally believed to be a widow, but actually had an estranged husband, Norman, who was working as an engineer in India. She later renovated her shop in 1964 to include a post office agency, and took in lodgers including Doreen Lostock and Sheila Birtles. Her biggest storyline though was in September 1964 when she had a nervous breakdown smashing everything in the shop to pieces. Her shop assistant Irma Barlow had to run the shop while she recovered! In 1965 she was reunited with Norman, and they left the series by emigrating to Canada.

Martha Longhurst

Martha Longhurst (née Hartley, played by Lynne Carol) was one of the soap's original gossips. In 1960 Martha and Ena Sharples argued over Martha's decision to take Ena's old job as the caretaker at the Mission Hall, and, in 1963, Martha became resident cleaner for the Rover's Return. In 1964, Australian millionaire Ted Ashley returned to Weatherfield for the first time in 50 years, and, in a last ditch pathetic attempt to find love, Martha threw herself at him, only to be rejected at a subsequent date in London. In May 1964, Martha was invited on her first foreign holiday abroad—a week-long trip to the Costa Del Sol with her daughter and family. Though she was invited so she could babysit her grandchildren, Martha was thrilled at the prospect (despite being chided as being frivolous by Ena), and, on the night before her departure, celebrated her holiday in the snug with friends Minnie and Ena. During the celebration, the Street residents gathered to wave off another long-time favourite, Frank Barlow. During a sing-a-long organised to bid him farewell, Martha collapsed and died of a heart attack, just hours before she was due to travel to Spain.

The 1964 episode of her death, however, was not the last the time Martha Longhurst was to be a prominent figure in a Coronation Street storyline. Over 10 years after her death, Betty Turpin, barmaid at the Rovers Return, reported to hear a voice, sounding like Martha's, in the snug. Ena Sharples claimed later in the storyline that she had seen the ghost of Martha Longhurst in the snug on several occasions. The residents used a ouija board to try and call Martha from beyond the grave, alas to no avail. The storyline concluded with Martha's glasses being found in the Snug of the Rovers Return, in the exact position they were when they toppled off her head as she suffered a heart attack at the same table 10 years previous.

Doreen Lostock

Doreen Lostock (played by Angela Crow) was good friends with Sheila Birtiles and lived above the Corner Shop with her. Doreen worked for Gamma Garments alongside Leonard Swindley & Emily Nugent. She left the street in 1963.

M

Clara Midgeley

Clara Midgeley (played by Betty Hardy) arrived in the Street when the Mission employed her as temporary cover while Ena Sharples was away visiting her brother. She soon became friends with Minnie Caldwell, and set her sights on Albert Tatlock, proposing to him while they were on holiday. However, he turned her down, saying he was too set in his ways to marry again.

Charlie Moffitt

Charlie Moffitt (played by Gordon Rollings) was the Viaduct Sporting Club's resident comic, who was taken in as a lodger by Minnie Caldwell along with his greyhound called Little Titch. Charlie quit showbusiness in 1965 and bought an insurance round; later that year Charlie left Coronation Street for a season in panto.

P

onia Peters

Sonia Peters was a character who was only mentioned but not seen in 1967.

Sonia was a local girl in the area and went to Bessie Street School with Lucille Hewitt.She had been described as a "tubby little blonde" and had a smashing figure (so supposedly very sexy). Tragedy struck when a train derailed off the viaduct and crash into the Street. Sonia was under the rubble and was found by David Barlow but couldn't tell if Sonia was alive, while her boyfriend PC Jimmy Conway was dug out of the wreakage by Jerry Booth.

It was said that Sonia was to marry Jimmy a week later by her grandmother Elli-Jane, Jimmy went to check if Sonia had been found and was devastated to find that Sonia had been killed & Lucille stood on the pavement crying over her lost friend.

Lionel Petty

Lionel Petty (played by Edward Evans) was an ex- sergeant Major, who bought the Corner Shop from Florrie Lindley in 1965. He left Coronation Street in January 1966 and moved to Wales.

andra Petty

Sandra Petty (played by Heather Moore) moved to Coronation Street with her father, Lionel Petty. She served as his assistant in the Corner Shop before taking a post at Gamma Garments with Emily Nugent. Sandra had a brief relationship with Dennis Tanner.

Alice Pickens

Alice Pickens (played by Doris Hare) she appeared in the series during 1968 & 1969. She became engaged to Albert Tatlock but the marriage was called off.

Walter Potts

Walter Potts (played by Christopher Sandford) was a window cleaner who was discovered by Dennis Tanner. At Lenny Phillips theatrical agency, Dennis turned Walter into the next singing sensation, under the name Brett Falcon. Walter lodged with the Tanners at number 11 Coronation Street before he left for a European tour early in 1964.

Effie Spicer

Effie Spicer (played by Ann Dyson) moved into the new maisonettes that were built after the Glad Tidings Mission Hall was demolished in 1968. During her time on Coronation Street she clashed on many occasions with her neighbour Ena Sharples. Effie left the street in 1969.

Leonard Swindley

Leonard Swindley was played by Arthur Lowe from 1960 to 1965. He was a lay preacher who worked at Gamma Garments with Emily Bishop. He often clashed with Ena Sharples over her role as caretaker of the local mission. His parents were Eliza-Jane and Thomas Swindley, and his sister was Hilda Barrett. Leonard and Emily were due to marry in 1964, but she abruptly called the wedding off as she felt they were making a mistake. Leonard Swindley was promoted to the head office of Gamma Garments and after leaving the Street, appeared in two spinoffs - "Pardon the Expression" (1965-1966) and "Turn out the Lights" (1967).

T

Arnold Tanner

Arnold Tanner (played by Frank Crawshaw) was the first husband of Elsie Tanner. He appeared in the Street in 1961 wanting a divorce from Elsie.

teve Tanner

Steve Tanner (played by Paul Maxwell) was an old flame of Elsie Tanner's from the war. He returned to Weatherfield in 1967 and rekindled his relationship with Elsie. They married and moved back to Steve's hometown in America. In 1968 Elsie returned alone saying her marriage was over. Steve followed Elsie back to the Street but he was pushed down a flight of stairs and killed by Joe Donnelli.

ee also

List of past Coronation Street characters