1980: Farewell To Maurice Westrop...

In the spring of 1980, Maurice Westrop (Edward Dentith), head of NY Estates' Beckindale holding, had momentous news for his daughter, Judy (Jane Cussons). He started with a question:

"How attached to this place are you?"

"The village or the house?"

"Both. Either."

"More attached than I have been for a long time. We've moved about a lot since Mother died," Judy sighed. She had experienced many problems since the death of her mother.

"Is that what you want - a permanent home?"

"Oh, perhaps not. It's one of those things you tell yourself will put everything right. It won't, of course. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go off on that tack."

"What you've just said is important. I hadn't realised when you were younger, moving on every couple of years to a new school, a different house..."

"It doesn't matter. It's just one of those things - plenty of people live like that. Anyway, what brought this on?"

"I'm moving on again. They want me over in North Wales, permanently."

"I see."

"It's not my choice."

"I know. When?"

"In a few weeks."

"Well, that's that then."

"If it's that important, I could get in touch..."

"No you couldn't. You're doing very nicely with NY Estates. And anyway..."

"And anyway I'm too old to change horses. You're right."

Judy made to escape the kitchen - "Today you're going to have a proper lunch. I'm doing complicated things to a chicken."

"We've got to talk this over. I hope you'll come with me."

Judy's mind was awhirl. Everything had changed in just a few minutes. "I don't know. I don't know." And she left the room, leaving an anxious Maurice behind her.

On a visit to Emmerdale Farm, Judy had a piece of good fortune.

"You still looking for a job?" asked Matt Skilbeck (Frederick Pyne).

"Why?"

"Huxleys', the auctioneers in Hotten Market, they're looking for someone."

"To do what?"

Matt shrugged: "All I know is that I couldn't see Ben Huxley this morning cos he was interviewing somebody for it. Give 'em a ring."

"Oh, there's not much point - I've just been telling Annie that Dad's been posted to North Wales, he's going to manage the big estate up there."

"It's like the Army - moving you about from pillar to post!" commented Sam Pearson (Toke Townley).

"He wants me to go with him," said Judy.

"Well, how long before you'll be going?" asked Matt.

"Three weeks. If I go."

"I thought you weren't interested in't job because you were going?"

"I don't really seem too sure of anything," said Judy, forlornly.

Word travelled fast in Beckindale. The next day, at Home Farm, Maurice commented:

"I hear you've been looking round for jobs? I'm sure I could fix you up with something in North Wales."

"I've started to make friends here."

"You'd do that anywhere!"

"Do you realise I haven't any old friends? Oh, there are plenty of people scattered all over the place that I've known for a few months before moving on. Friends I'll probably never see again. If I come to Wales with you it'll be the same thing all over again. Christmas cards for a few years before we cross each other off our lists... Dolly and Matt. Annie Sugden. Henry Wilks...."

She told her father that Huxley's were looking for an assistant to the auctioneer.

She'd grown close to her father during her stay at Home Farm and the thought of parting was not easy. But she told Maurice she'd decided to visit Hotten Market the following day, which was market day: "I thought I'd just like to get the feel of it before I commit myself."

And so the next day she went to Hotten. She took a good look around the market, then went to the desk: "Do you know if the vacancy for an auctioneer's assistant is still open?"

Back at Home Farm, Maurice was waiting:

"You want to stay here, don't you?"

Judy told him that she had been to Huxley's and that the vacancy was still open.

"You're taking it."

"Well, I asked for a day or two to decide."

It was all very difficult. Maurice told Judy that he felt a sense of responsibility for her, belated though it was. Judy confided in Jack Sugden that she felt a sense of responsibility towards her father.

Jack had lots to say: "These women who turn their backs on a career and marriage to look after their parents don't get a lot of sympathy from me. No parent has a right to bring a child into this world and then deny it a life of its own. And no child has a right to opt for martyrdom. Not these days, anyway." He grinned: "How come whenever I talk to you I start preaching at you?"

"Perhaps I'm in need of conversion," said Judy.

"Yeah, well, don't quote me when you tell your father you're stopping in Beckindale."

"Who said I was?"

"You're not the stuff that martyrs are made of."

"How do you know- you don't even know me?"

"I'm a writer, remember? We like to think we can explain our fellow creatures to themselves."

"Can you?"

Jack smiled - and shrugged.

"Whatever you do, it'll have to be your decision," said Maurice later back at Home Farm. "And if you find you've made a mistake you won't be able to get back at me."

Judy took a deep breath: "I've decided to stay."

"I know," her father replied, quietly.

"How could you possibly know, I didn't know myself till this morning!"

"What you mean is that's the first time you've admitted it to yourself. I've known all along - from the look on your face when I first mentioned going to Wales. You've never been able to keep any secrets from me. When you were a little girl I had only to look in your eyes - your mouth was saying one thing, your eyes were saying another."

"Thanks very much!" Judy smiled.

"I hope you'll settle down at Huxley's. I think you will - it'll be an interesting job - going round all the farms."

"I haven't said I'll take it yet. I'm not sure."

"They'll be very disappointed if you don't - they're banking on it." Then, as Judy looked at him quizzically: "Oh, I was there yesterday about the Mashams. Ben Huxley's under the impression that you'll be starting next week."

"What have you been saying?!"

"Nothing. Oh, er, I may have mentioned that they'd find you an honest, careful and conscientious worker."

"You really are an old devil!"

"I hope I haven't been speaking out of turn?"

Judy looked at him anxiously: "Do you mind?"

"Well, if you're not coming with me, I'd feel better knowing what you're doing."

"That's not what I meant."

Maurice smiled: "We'll see each other."

"You'll really be all right?"

"Oh for heaven's sake, I'm not in my dotage yet! And I've looked after myself for long enough. You'd have never have stuck North Wales anyway! Three months and you'd have been off again - heaven knows where!"

Judy grinned: "You really do know me, don't you?"

Some days later, on a visit to Emmerdale Farm, Judy talked things over with Annie (Sheila Mercier) and Dolly (Jean Rogers):

"I don't think Dad's altogether happy about my staying on."

"Oh, he's bound to worry," said Annie.

"It's difficult to explain really. I want to stay in Beckindale, but it's more than that. It's time I stood on my own two feet again. That's really what's at the back of it."

There was one remaining practical difficulty: accommodation.

"I don't want to be a burden at Home Farm - people too polite to throw me out, but wondering why I'm still there!"

"There's a simple answer - Demdyke!" cried Annie. Joe (Frazer Hines) was away in America and wouldn't be back for a couple of months - Judy could stay there until she found a place of her own.

"Well, thanks, Annie, but I don't know that Joe..."

"It's simple! When he rings from America I'll ask him. There's only two answers!"

And, of course, Joe said yes.

On the eve of his departure, Maurice was sad. Annie had invited the Westrops for a meal at Emmerdale, and Judy commented: "We're going to be very early."

"I thought we'd call in at the Woolpack on the way."

"You're really feeling it, aren't you?"

"I didn't think I would... all these years, moving about from place to place. I'd rather hoped this was the last stop."

"You shouldn't have started packing so early!"

"Well, it's no good pretending it isn't going to happen. It's you as well, Judy. Leaving you behind makes it all the more difficult."

"I won't be the other side of the world. We'll still see each other."

"On high days and holidays!"

"Oh, more than that! And anyway, can that be bad? Before I came here we hardly saw each other at all. We hadn't had a real conversation for years."

"I've been spoilt!"

"Nobody ever died of that!"

"I suppose you're looking forward to Joe coming back?"

"Oh, it'll be good to see him."

"And that's all?"

Judy laughed: "Oh, Dad, stop trying to get me married off!"

"It's just a fatherly interest. I'm not prying."

"I don't know what'll happen. Oh, there was a time when I thought it might take off - somehow it didn't. But he's a marvellous friend - and that's what matters. Now come on - it's gloomy here, let's go. Amos can cheer us up with tales of his vegetable patch." For Amos Brearly (Ronald Magill) had just gained an allotment in Beckindale, and spoke of little else.

After an enjoyable stop-off at The Woolpack, the Westrops, father and daughter, set off for Emmerdale Farm.

Before the meal commenced, Henry Wilks (Arthur Pentelow) proposed a toast:

"Let's just say this is not a farewell dinner. Maurice has become a good friend over the last two years and I know he'll be coming back to Beckindale - Judy's staying here to make sure that he does..."

Surrounded by friends and with new horizons beckoning, Maurice felt a little happier.

The gathering stood up to drink a toast:

"TO THE FUTURE!"

From "Wilks" To "Mr Wilks" - Credit Where It's Due!

Give that man a medal! Mr Wilks listens to yet another of Amos' bizarre schemes in the 1980s.

From 1972 until the early 1980s, the character of Henry Wilks, portrayed by Arthur Pentelow, was always listed in the closing credits as "Wilks". Initially, Henry, a retired businessman, was seen moving to Beckindale and was very much an outsider.

But that changed.

In the 1980s, Henry's partnership with Amos Brearly at the Woolpack Inn was in its golden era, and the popularity of that partnership - and the character of Henry Wilks - was acknowledged by altering "Wilks" to "Mr Wilks" (which, of course, Amos always called him) in the programme's end credits early in the decade.

A lovely and thoroughly English quirk (such formality!) which was later echoed by the listing of Caroline Bates (Diana Davies), Alan Turner's long suffering secretary at NY Estates, as "Mrs Bates" in the closing credits. In the NY days, this was the title Alan always used, and, even after the character's Christian name was revealed, "Mrs Bates" remained in the closing credits.

"Emmerdale Farm" closing credits from 1980 - "Wilks"!

Spot the difference - "Emmerdale Farm" closing credits from 1983 - "Mr Wilks"!

The Wonderful World Of Amos And Mr Wilks

Arthur Pentelow as Henry Wilks (or should that be Mr Wilks?!) and Ronald Magill as Amos Brearly. These two ran The Woolpack Inn and shared the living accommodation from 1973 to 1991.

Actually there were TWO Woolpacks. The first was declared unsafe due to subsidence in 1976, so the pair relocated to premises elsewhere in the village.

Mr Wilks was a warm hearted retired businessman. Amos was... well... erm... it's not easy to summarise Amos. He was childish. Pompous. Usually rigidly formal. Given to rapid fads and enthusiasms. He was also naive and very good hearted. Underneath it all.

The character of Amos evolved. When he became Beckindale correspondent on the Hotten Courier, he puffed himself up like a peacock. But it took until the early 1980s before the character was refined and honed to perfection. Watch any 1970s episode of Emmerdale Farm, and I think you might agree that Amos was quieter, more restrained and dour than in the 1980s - when he was gloriously potty, pursuing fad after fad in quick succession, bridling at Mr Wilks' attempts to bring him down to earth and generally being a wonderful nuisance.

1980 was an absolutely pivotal year for the Amos character - with Seth Armstrong leaving The Malt Shovel bar to become a regular at The Woolpack, and Al Dixon joining the cast as Walter, Amos became more animated, fad-ridden and bizarre than ever before!

The '80s were a truly splendid era during which Amos and Mr Wilks story lines abounded, as the show became an all-year-round soap.

Do you remember the time when Amos got into transcendental meditation? The time he went "upwardly mobile" and took up golf with Alan Turner? The time he turned to bee keeping? The time he baked a cake? The time he was cursed by a gypsy? The time...

If all these sound like Amos-only story lines, rest assured that Mr Wilks was always there, advising, trying to moderate his friend's behaviour, and generally suffering!

Fortunately, Mr Wilks had friends elsewhere or he would, no doubt, have gone insane!

Amos and Mr Wilks have a disagreement in 1980...

... and they're still at in 1989. Dolly Skilbeck (Jean Rogers) looks on.

A pain in the neck to Amos was one of his best 1980s customers and arch enemy, Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards). How he loved to wind the big key in Amos' back! In 1980, Amos commented disapprovingly on Seth's loyalty to the Malt Shovel. Seth was just becoming established as a regular character back then, having first appeared in a few episodes in 1978. From 1980 onwards, Seth switched to The Woolpack, and absolutely loved to get under Amos' skin! Remember the time he booked two strippers (and a python!) to perform at The Woolpack - much to Amos' horror? Amos ordered them out and the pub was wrecked by irate customers!

Seth holding court at The Woolpack in 1983. Walter (Al Dixon) says nowt and concentrates on his ale. Al Dixon first appeared as the silent bar propper in September 1980.

Seth and pal.

"Sunday People", June 9, 1985. Apparently Jenny the donkey's braying could sometimes be heard when the "Emmerdale Farm" crew were attempting to film in Esholt - so it was decided to bring her into the story!

Joint Pipe Smokers Of The Year, 1986.

Picture the scene: it's 1980 and only 5% of UK households have video recorders. In fact, video technology had been around for yonks, but domestic players and recorders only a few years and they were highly expensive. So, unable to tape your favourite shows to keep and keep again, you bought novels of all the storylines.

.

Shadows From The Past, by Lee Mackenzie, was the 10th Emmerdale Farm novel (there would be many more) and was published in 1980. The author was excellent at bringing Amos and Mr Wilks to life on paper. Here, Amos has been awakened by a strange noise, and goes to investigate. Mr Wilks, disturbed by Amos' movements, follows and demands an explanation...

.

"There was somebody here. I heard him."

.

"Heard what?"

.

I heard a... There was a... A sound."

.

"You probably woke yourself with your own snoring, Amos."

.

"I do not snore, Mr Wilks," said his partner, offended.

.

"How do you know if you don't? Have you ever stayed awake to listen?"

.

"How could I stay awake and..." Amos realised his leg was being pulled. "I'm serious, Mr Wilks. Someone is in the Woolpack."

.

"Rubbish."

.

"I tell you I heard a sort of a thud -"

.

"A sickening thud?"

.

"Eh?" Amos read very little and knew nothing about well-worn cliches from the thrillers of bygone years. "It was more of a... chunk."

.

"A chunk of what?"

.

"A sound like a chunk. Like this." Amos picked up a jug from the top of the fridge and put it down on the metal top. "Like that, only louder."

.

"It was something falling over."

.

"What, then?" Amos waved a hand. "Nothing's fallen over."

.

"Aye," Henry said, rather dry. "Everythings just as usual."

.

"In here." Amos agreed. "But who knows where else he's been? He suddenly clutched his dressing-gown in the region of his heart. "The till!" he cried.

.

He rushed out into the bar. Henry followed, much more slowly. Accustomed as he was to Amos' funny ways, this amused him only a little. As a man approaches the golden years, he needs his sleep.

.

Amos went to the till, rang up 'no sale' and found the money still there. It's to be understood that this money wasn't the whole day's takings. Those were upstairs under lock and key in a box below Amos' bed. The money in the till was a peace-offering to any burglar who might get in: Amos reasoned that if a man got something, he wouldn't creep upstairs and murder you in your bed.

.

He had a low opinion of how much a burglar would be satisfied with. Nevertheless the one pound note, one fifty pence piece, and four twopence pieces were still there.

.

"You see?" Henry said. "Nobody's got in. If they had, they'd have taken that."

.

Amos was shaken. Then he said, "I disturbed him at it. That's what it is! The chunk I heard - that was the till being pushed shut."

.

"Funny sort of burglar who bothers to close the till when he's disturbed," Henry rejoined, rubbing the back of his neck and stifling a yawn. "Come on, Amos, let's get back to bed."

.

"Nay, Mr Wilks, I tell thee - someone's been in here. I can feel it."

.

"Clairvoyant, are you?"

.

"Mr Wilks, I'm C of E as well you know..."

.

Excellent stuff - and the best was yet to come!

1989: Denis Rigg

Businessman Mr Wilks knew Denis Rigg's type - and told him so.

1989 saw local businessman Denis Rigg causing many problems for the Sugden family. He wanted to buy Emmerdale Farm and turn the land into an open quarry, and stooped to various devious means to get his way.

Annie told Joe that she wouldn't settle anywhere else - she wanted to see out her days at the farm. Joe was opposed to Denis' plans anyway, and told him so - the farm was expanding, not being sold off to become a quarry.

Denis thought that Mr Wilks might be an ally, and called on him at The Woolpack. But Mr W was having none of it - a former businessman himself, he knew Denis' type and told him so.

Denis' next port of call on that fateful July afternoon was to Emmerdale Farm - where he found Joe tending to his prize bull in one of the outbuildings. Denis started off with promises to make Joe wealthy if he sold the farm, but ended up furious at Joe's continued refusals. The bull became distressed by the angry human, and Denis ended up crushed against the wall.

The visit to Emmerdale Farm was the last visit Denis Rigg ever made.

1989: Annie Sugden's Tranquilliser Adiction...

"These last few days I've felt like staying in bed. Not getting up, not ever...."

I frowned upon the Emmerdale Farm storyline which portrayed the serial's sensible matriarch, Annie Sugden, being hooked on tranquillisers and going through agonies to break the habit.

I didn't like soap folk behaving out of character, it didn't seem true to life. Nowadays I rarely view soaps, but I have learnt a lot more about life and have come to the conclusion that real people often behave out of character. And aren't soaps supposed to reflect reality? Well, at least that was the intention back in 1989!

Annie had endured lashings of heartache: her husband, daughter and two grandchildren had died in the 1970s, and her father and daughter-in-law in the 1980s (after the tranquilliser addiction storyline, Annie would face further heartache with the death of her grandson, Jackie).

So, perhaps the tranquilliser storyline was not that unlikely at all.

Some Beckindale Cast And Characters - September 1984

Some of the cast and character details from the Hotten Courier, Yorkshire TV's publicity pamphlet for Emmerdale Farm, September 30, 1984. Did you know that Hugh Manning (the Rev Donald Hinton) also starred in the highly successful 1960s series Mrs Thursday? That Arthur Pentelow (Mr Wilks) was a keen birdwatcher, just like his character? That Al Dixon (Walter) hoped his character would never speak? Or that Sheila Mercier (Annie Sugden) is the sister of Brian Rix?

Also from The Courier, Al Dixon, who played the second Woolpack Walter, and contributed so much to the pub's atmosphere, celebrated four years at the bar in 1984, having debuted in September 1980. Mr Dixon suffered a stroke in late 1985, but continued to appear on-screen until Christmas, when he had a small role in the village play, Toad Of Toad Hall. The play sequence, plus another scene with Walter knocking on the door of the Woolpack at opening time, to be admitted by Amos, had been filmed on location in Esholt before the actor fell ill.

-

In early 1986, Walter departed from Beckindale to stay with his sister in Worthing. It was hoped that Al Dixon would recover from his stroke and return to the show, but he died not long afterwards.

Beckindale In The '80s - Romantic Complications...

Many thanks To Bill Sands, who provided the 1980s Emmerdale Farm publicity stills for this post.
Sandra Gough was barmaid Doreen in Emmerdale Farm from 1984 to 1985. Here's Mr Wilks apparently about to sup from the barmaid's slipper...

Of course, any hopes of romance faded. With a couple of sourpusses like Amos Brearly and Ernie Shuttleworth on the scene it was hardly surprising! Peter Schofield stepped into the role of Mr Shuttleworth in the early 1980s. Here we get a rare glimpse of the exterior of the Malt Shovel.

Ernie was very keen to entertain his patrons with various special nights - including a disco night with the "latest hot sounds of the '80s". Can you imagine?! Sadly, these nights were never shown in the programme, but we did learn that Ernie's non-attendance at the village bowls match in 1986 was because he'd put his back out at one of these dance-fests.

Joe met and fell for divorcee Kate Hughes in 1988 and they married in 1989. Kate had two teenage offspring and an ex-husband who hadn't totally given up on his relationship with her. Oh dear...

From 1984-1988 Mrs Bates and Alan Turner provided some of Emmerdale Farm's best comedy scenes at the NY Estates Home Farm office. Add to this Seth Armstrong buzzing in and out ("GET OUT, SETH!") and the whole scenario became absolutely delicious.

Asked about the possibility of Mrs Bates' relationship with Alan developing in 1985, actress Diana Davies said: "Well, we don't know, we just think it's probably not a very good idea because it's good fun the way it is now."

She was quite right of course. When things did develop in 1989 the "will she? won't she?" magic evaporated and a lot of the fun left the relationship. Mrs Bates and Alan Turner might have developed as a likeable married couple, and marriage was certainly planned, but Diana Davies left the show instead (although she would revisit it) and Mrs Bates went to look after her sick mother in Scarborough.

As in all good soaps, romance in Emmerdale Farm was never smooth running...

25 Years Ago - The Way Things Were - Gossip From Beckindale 1983 - Part 3

A cold, sunny morning in early 1983, and Mr Wilks arrived at the Woolpack at the same time as the postman with that day's post. He took it. Amos was busy behind the bar and would read his mail later.

Up at Emmerdale Farm, the postman gave a letter to Sam Pearson...

... who became very excited upon opening it. "Annie! Annie!"

In the farmhouse, Sam showed Annie and Pat the letter, which revealed that he had won a competition organised by Shepherd's Super Seeds - a cruise for two to the Canaries.

"I may not know much, but I know all about flowers! 'Supersede all other seeds,' as soon as Jack said that, I knew it couldn't be beat." He turned to Pat: "So, half of it's yours and half of it's Jack's and you must have a lovely holiday between you!"

But Pat refused. She was worried about Sandie who, having broken the news of her pregnancy, had gone to stay with her father. Pat wanted to remain at home in case she was needed in any way.

"She seems to have taken Sandie's going harder than I thought, Annie," said Sam after Pat had left them.

"Give her time, Dad, it hasn't been easy," said Annie.

As for the cruise, Annie and Sam decided they would go together, if that was all right with the others.

"I've just thought of something - this is going to put a flea in Amos' ear - he went in for the competition too!" laughed Sam.

Annie was delighted to see her father in such good spirits. The news of Sandie's pregnancy had made Sam very unhappy - he was fond of the girl and very concerned for her. Annie was glad that something had put the spring back in his step.

Meanwhile, at the Woolpack, Amos had sat down to read his mail whilst Mr Wilks prepared them something on toast.

Suddenly, Amos became very excited: "I'm a winner, Mr Wilks, a winner!"

It turned out he'd won one of fifty tricycles as a runner-up in the Shepherd's Super Seeds competition. "That'll just suit me, with my balancing!"

Of course, Amos couldn't resist puffing himself up a little: "I just knew that little rhyme of mine would catch their eyes! You thought I couldn't find a rhyme for that, didn't you?"

"A rhyme for what?" asked Mr Wilks.

"Horticulture, Mr Wilks, horticulture - Shepherd's Super Seeds! 'Considering gardening at this juncture, you can't beat Shepherd's Super Seeds for horticulture'! I knew that was a winner as soon as I thought of it!"

Well, it certainly deserves summat," said Mr Wilks. He reminded Amos that he was only a runner-up, an "also ran", but Amos was not to be deterred - a winner was a winner!

Then another thought struck him: "Sam Pearson's going to take this hard - me being a prize winner! Well, he went in for the competition an' all!"

Annie was soon into listing what was "wanted on voyage", although as she said to Pat: "The more I try to shorten this, the longer it seems to get!"

Sam was very excited: "Annie, I've been looking in this book and it says the way to avoid sea sickness is not to keep your eyes fixed on owt - it's written by a globe trotter, a travel book."

"I'd have thought that meant he was a walker!" laughed Pat, who was doing some hand washing at the sink.

"Hmm," Sam decided to ignore that. "And it says you should only drink bottled or boiled water."

" Dad, this was written in 1870!" said Annie.

"That doesn't matter! The desert hasn't changed, has it? I mean, the Sahara's still there?"

"It's the Canaries, Dad, and we're going on a ship - a modern ship."

"Annie, it says a day in Casblanca. Now, that's in Africa, isn't it? And it's near the desert!"

"But they don't live in tents and drink river water, Mr Pearson," Pat laughed.

"I hope not!" said Sam

Meanwhile, Amos was thrilled with his tricycle. It had been expected in some quarters that he might be more than a little jealous of Sam's prize winning success, but not Amos - the tricycle had gripped his imagination, as things tended to do, and he was as pleased as could be.

"You make a fine sight on that!" said the vicar, the Reverend Donald Hinton, meeting Amos in the village one morning.

"Aye, it's the extra wheel, you see - lending not only balance, so you can't fall off it, but making it look right - like it's meant to have a body on it," explained Amos.

"I see," smiled Mr Hinton.

"And it's safe, you feel quite safe with this," Amos continued. "Not vulnerable and you can take a look around at things without wobbling."

"Yes, you did have a wobble on the other, I had noticed." said Mr Hinton.

"Aye, I always did have a wobble. I always used to say, 'Put me on a bike and you have a wobble'. Not with this, on this I never wobble!"

On the cruise departure day at Emmerdale Farm, Annie was serene and ready well in time...

... whilst her father flew around the house, seeking things already packed, and checking and rechecking his suitcase, until Jack loaded it in the car!

But finally the travellers were off, with Jack driving them to the airport.

The intrepid travellers were only away for a few episodes, but life didn't stand still. In their absence, Jack and Jackie became closer and Pat deserted her disliked (and not terribly successful) duties at the Aga to help out on the farm - which rather took Jack aback.

When the travellers returned, they declared that they'd had a lovely time.

And one of the first things Sam did was to pop round to the Woolpack to show Amos his holiday snaps.

Remember '88?

Archie Brooks has a surprise for some friends and it's Mrs Bates last day as Alan Turner's secretary - TV Times, 21 January, 1988.

Amos and Mr Wilks square up...

... for the battle of beers - 3 March, 1988. Does anybody have details of these episodes? I'd love to know more!