List of minor EastEnders characters (1990)

The following is a list of minor characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" in 1990, by order of first appearance.

Harry Osborne

Infobox EastEnders character


character_name=Harry Osborne
actor_name=John Boswall
years=1990
first=23 January 1990
last=22 February 1990
dod=22 February 1990
status= Deceased
occupation=RetiredIn January 1990 a mysterious old man was seen lingering around Albert Square. He was initially reluctant to divulge his identity, but it was apparent that he knew some of the residents, in particular the Beale family. Café worker Rod Norman and his girlfriend Hazel took an interest in the man, whose name was later revealed to be Harry Osborne. They discovered that he had travelled the world before his recent return to Walford. Hazel — spurred on by Harry's tales — left Rod to do some travelling of her own. Harry was seen regularly over the following weeks, mysteriously enquiring about old faces on the Square and cryptically turning up at the christening of Steven Beale, much to the bemusement of everyone else. Rod found out that he had once been the boyfriend of Lou Beale's sister, Doris. Lou had died in 1988, but Harry was persuaded to pay her daughter Pauline a visit to find out about Doris. He knocked on her door, but fearfully fled before she answered. It soon became clear that Harry's past wasn't the only thing troubling him, he was also suffering from ill health and was seen clutching his chest in obvious pain. One cold, rainy afternoon, Harry sat in pain on a bench in Albert Square gardens, where he died. His body was found by Willy, Ethel Skinner's dog. Ethel recognised Harry and seemed to know a lot about his history.

She revealed that Harry had grown up at number 29 Albert Square and when he was 15 years old he had fallen in love with Doris and vowed to marry her. However when the Second World War broke, he was conscripted into the army and sent to war. Doris promised to wait until Harry returned, but he was later reported missing in action and presumed dead. Doris subsequently married another man named Morris Miller. When Harry returned he managed to find employment working on the docks, where he occasionally got his hands on scarce food items, which he smuggled out and shared with his neighbours. On one occasion he gave some meat to a nine year old girl. However the meat turned out to be unsanitary and it accidentally poisoned her. She died and Harry fled the country in shame amidst accusations of murder. He had spent over 40 years in self-imposed exile and it seemed that Harry had only come back to his childhood home to die. [" [http://walford.net/cgi-bin/profile.pl?record=0425 Harry Osborne] ", "Walford.net". URL last accessed on 2007-03-25.] Harry's death upset Rod and he left Walford soon after to travel the world.

Bev Williams

Infobox EastEnders character 3


caption=
character_name=Bev Williams
actor_name=Diane Langton (1998-1999)
years=1990, 1998, 1999
first=20 February 1990
last=10 August 1999
home=Devon
status=Divorced
husband=Tom Williams
daughters=Cindy Beale
Gina Williams
grandsons=Steven Beale
Peter Beale
granddaughters=Lucy Beale
Cindy Williams

Bev Williams was the mother of Cindy Beale. Bev was originally called Lucy and Cindy named her daughter after her in 1994, [" [http://www.walford.net/update/19940113.htm 13-JAN-94] ", "walford.net". URL last accessed 2007-02-07.] however from 1998 she was referred to as Bev.

During the 1980s, Bev owned a hat stall on Turpin road market, which Cindy ran for her in 1988. Bev and her husband then moved to Devon and her pitch on the market was taken over by Laurie Bates in 1989. Bev remained unseen until February 1990, when she and her husband attended their grandson Steven's christening. At the end of 1990, Cindy, Simon Wicks and Steven all moved away from London to stay with Bev in Devon.

Bev was not seen again until November 1998, when Cindy's former husband, Ian, met her at the coroner's office following Cindy's death. She had been estranged her daughter until a few months before she died, when Cindy contacted her asking for money. She could not give Cindy any however, as her husband, Tom, had left her that year. Ian gave her a lift to the hospital to see Cindy's newborn baby, Cindy Jr., and she tried to get him to take the child in as his own, threatening to put the baby into care. However, custody of the baby was eventually given to Bev's other daughter Gina, who lived with her mother in Devon. Bev appeared at Cindy's funeral, and later in August 1999 when Ian visited her and Gina to watch the eclipse. She persuaded Mel Healy to propose to Ian, as Gina was trying to split them up. Even though in 2007, Gina and Cindy Jr only appeared, but Bev didn't.

Carol Hanley

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Carol Hanley
actor_name=Sheila White
years=1990
first=28 June 1990
last=1 November 1990
status=Married
husband=Ron Hanley
daughters=Sharon Rickman
sons=Chris Hanley
grandsons=Dennis Rickman Jr.

Carol Ann Hanley (née Stretton) was the biological mother of Sharon Watts, who appeared in 1990 when Sharon tracked her down. Sharon's best friend Michelle visited a pregnant Carol and her husband Ron, and spoke to them about contacting Sharon.

Sharon later visited Carol when her baby was born. Carol and Sharon got on well, but after Carol's confession that she only thought of her as a good friend, Sharon realised there would never be a parental bond between them and stopped seeing her.

April McIntosh

Infobox EastEnders character


character_name=April McIntosh
actor_name=Helen Pearson
years=1990
first=5 July 1990
last=10 July 1990
status=Single
occupation=Market Trader
family=

April McIntosh was a market trader whose livelihood was under threat in 1990 when Walford Borough Council threatened to demolish the Market.

John Royle

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=John Royle
actor_name=Paddy Joyce
years=1990–1991, 1993
first=16 August 1990
last=21 January 1993
status=Widower
occupation=Retired metal worker
sons=Eddie Royle
home = Ireland

John Royle was the widowed father of Eddie Royle — the publican of The Queen Vic. He first appeared in Walford in August 1990 when he came to visit his son. John was a wily Irishman and a retired metal worker. In his youth, he was a talented footballer and could have played professionally if he'd wanted to leave Dublin, which he didn't.

He was often the life and soul of the party in Walford, and was known to like a pint of Guinness or two. He was a perfect pal for the other seniors on the Square — Jules Tavernier and Ethel Skinner. He could often be seen engaging in a game of poker with Jules. On one occasion Jules managed to thrash John, but was mortified when John paid the winnings in chickens instead of money. Mo Butcher ended up taking them back to her family's Bed and Breakfast.

John was very proud of his son and wouldn't get mixed up in anything that would have earned his disapproval. John would show up periodically to visit Eddie, and on one occasion he brought Eddie's ex-girlfriend, Eibhlin O'Donnell, with him. Unfortunately, John's timing couldn't have been worse, as her arrival spelt the end of his son's relationship with Kathy Beale. However, within a few months, Eddie had changed his mind and asked Eibhlin to marry him.

Eddie was murdered by Nick Cotton in September 1991, and John was devastated to lose his pride and joy, especially in such horrific circumstances.

After this time, John was not seen in Walford until January 1993, when he attended the trial of Nick Cotton. He had found the death of his son hard to get over and he hoped that seeing justice served to his son's killer would bring closure. He was horrified and inconsolable, however, when the verdict came back as not guilty.

Joan Garwood

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Joan Garwood
actor_name=Mary Millar
years=1990
first=20 November 1990
last=29 November 1990
status= Married
home= Colchester
occupation=Banker
father=Chike Butcher
mother=Mo Butcher
brothers=Frank Butcher
nephews=Ricky Butcher
Danny Butcher
nieces=Clare Butcher
Diane Butcher
Janine Evans
great nephews=Jacques Butcher
Liam Butcher
great nieces=Natasha Butcher

Joan Garwood (née Butcher) was the older sister of Frank Butcher, and the first child of Mo and Chike Butcher. Joan was far brighter than Frank and after graduating from school with 7 O levels, she got a job in a bank and married a chief accountant.

When Mo was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1990, she came to Walford to assess the situation. She and her brother Frank had not spoken for many years, but they were forced to call a truce for their mother's sake. Soon after, Frank took a confused Mo on an excursion to visit Joan in Colchester. She began demanding to move to her daughter's because she feared Frank wanted to kill her, but in moments of lucidity, she pleaded with her son to do just that.

Frank could not cope with his mother's illness, and when he began talking about ending her misery for her, Joan decided that Mo should not remain living with him. She and her husband took Mo to live with them in Colchester, where she died on 31 December 1992.

Pearl Chadwick

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Pearl Chadwick
actor_name=Ellen Thomas
years=1990
first=27 November 1990
last=20 December 1990
status= Married
home= Jamaica
occupation=Retired
husband=Henry Chadwick
daughters=Abigail Chadwick
grandsons=Kofi Tavernier

Pearl Chadwick's daughter, Abigail, had been killed in a motor accident and Abigail's son, Kofi, was left in Pearl's care. He resided with her and her husband Henry in Bristol. Kofi's father, Clyde Tavernier, visited occasionally, but he desperately missed his son and he was furious to discover that Pearl and Henry were planning to emigrate with Kofi to Jamaica in December 1990. Clyde was unable to talk Pearl out of taking Kofi, but Clyde's mother stepped in and they allowed Clyde to spend some time with Kofi in Walford before departing for the airport. Clyde could not bear lose his son, and he followed the Chadwicks to the airport and persuaded them that he could give Kofi the stability he needed. Clyde brought Kofi home to Walford in time for Christmas.

Henry Chadwick

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Henry Chadwick
actor_name=Thomas Baptiste
years=1990
first=13 December 1990
last=20 December 1990
status= Married
home= Jamaica
occupation=Retired
wife=Pearl Chadwick
daughters=Abigail Chadwick
grandsons=Kofi Tavernier

Henry Chadwick's daughter, Abigail, had been killed in a motor accident and Abigail's son, Kofi, was left in his care. Kofi resided with Henry and his wife Pearl in Bristol. Kofi's father, Clyde Tavernier, visited occasionally, but he desperately missed his son and he was furious to discover that Pearl and Henry were planning to emigrate with Kofi to Jamaica in December 1990. Clyde was unable to talk them out of taking Kofi, but Clyde's mother stepped in and they allowed Clyde to spend some time with Kofi in Walford before departing for the airport. Clyde could not bear lose his son, and he followed the Chadwicks to the airport and persuaded them that he could give Kofi the stability he needed. Clyde brought Kofi home to Walford in time for Christmas.

Ken Raynor

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Ken Raynor
actor_name=Ian Redford
years=1990-1991
first=18 December 1990
last=28 February 1991
introducer=Michael Ferguson
status= Married
wife=Sandra O'Brien
daughters=Jasmine O'Brien

Ken Raynor married Sandra O'Brien in Sunderland and became stepfather to her two children Disa and Ginny. Unbeknown to Sandra, Ken sexually abused both her girls. Disa ran away from home to live rough on the streets of London, turning to prostitution to survive. However, Disa had fallen pregnant with Ken's child, and he followed her there.

Ken was first seen on-screen in December 1990, when Mark Fowler witnessed him harassing Disa and scared him away. Disa gave birth to Ken's daughter on Christmas Day 1990 in a derelict building. She abandoned the baby — initially named Billie, later renamed Jasmine — on Diane Butcher's doorstep, until Diane convinced her to stay in an empty flat in Walford, and helped her to bond with the child.

Ken traced Disa there in January 1991. He tricked Disa's childminder, Dot Cotton, into letting him see the baby by pretending to be Disa's concerned uncle. He then kidnapped Jasmine. Ken wanted Disa back under his control, but Dot, with police assistance, tricked him into meeting her, and led him straight into the hands of the police. The baby was returned to Disa, and Ken was imprisoned.

With the possibility that Ken could be released, Disa was forced to admit to the sexual abuse he had subjected her to. Disa and her mother Sandra visited Ken in prison to confront him. Disgusted, Sandra informed Ken that she and her children would be testifying in court to ensure that he was imprisoned for a very long time.

Jasmine O'Brien

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Jasmine O'Brien
actor_name=
years=1990-1991
first=25 December 1990
dob=25 December 1990
last=28 February 1991
introducer=Michael Ferguson
grandmothers=Sandra Raynor
aunts= Ginny O'Brien
home=Sunderland
mother=Disa O'Brien
father=Ken Raynor
Disa O'Brien gave birth to her daughter alone, in a derelict building, on Christmas Day 1990. She abandoned the child in a cardboard box on Diane Butcher's doorstep. Diane cared for the baby in secret, with the help of her friend Mark Fowler, until they tracked Disa down and threatened to hand the baby over to the Social Services unless she returned to Walford with them. Disa did so, under protest, and lived in Mo Butcher's vacant flat on Albert Square. With the help of Diane and Dot Cotton, Disa began to bond with her daughter, who was originally named Billie, but later renamed Jasmine O'Brien.

Unbeknown to everyone else, Disa's baby was the product of sexual abuse by her stepfather Ken Raynor. Ken arrived in Walford and tricked Dot into allowing him to see the baby by pretending he was Disa's concerned uncle. He then kidnapped the child. Ken wanted Disa back under his control, but Dot, with police assistance, tricked him into meeting her, and led him straight into the hands of the police. The baby was returned to Disa, and Ken was imprisoned.

With the possibility that Ken could be released, Disa was forced to admit to the sexual abuse he had subjected her to. Disa and her mother Sandra visited Ken in prison to confront him. Disgusted, Sandra informed Ken that she and her children would be testifying in court to ensure that he was imprisoned for a very long time. Reunited with her mother, Disa took Jasmine back to their home in Sunderland.

References