Killer Corrie Quotes (No.10) - Ken Barlow

Well, what a week that was for the residents of Coronation Street!

It was a dramatic week on the Cobbles which began with the great tram crash on Monday. It culminated with the soap celebrating its 50th birthday on Thursday with a live 1 hour episode. We've seen the death of Ashley and of Molly whilst both Charlotte and Peter seem to be at death's door. Rita was pulled out of the debris of the Kabin although she is still in a critical condition. Fizz has given birth to a baby girl whilst Leanne made her wedding vows to Peter with what seemed to be his dying breaths.

To pay tribute to the world's longest current runnning soap, I've been blogging a quote a day from Corrie's past up until the big day and beyond.

During the week, I've quoted Coronation Street legends that include Albert Tatlock, Hilda Ogden, Elsie Tanner, Ena Sharples, Emily Bishop and Vera Duckworth to name but a few.

But it is only apt and fitting that I conclude with a quote from the legend that is Ken Barlow. He was there on that very first episode on December 9th 1960 and was there again this Thursday, December 9th 2010 at his son's hospital bedside - a world record for an on-going running soap character.

His quote comes from the conclusion to the corresponding live episode on Coronation Street's 40 anniversary back in December 2000.

He summed Coronation Street up in one simple, but wonderful moment. So, here is that final quote, quote No.10...

"It wasn't just the cobbles that got us here all together today. It was a feeling of tradition, of community and I'm proud of where I come from. I've lived here all my life. I've seen a lot of people come and go, a lot of changes, a lot dramas down this street. Like lots of other streets where people are living and trying to get together but it's just that I find that there's something a little bit special about this one and I know that you all feel the same. So I want you to raise your glasses with me and drink a toast, to Coronation Street" - Ken Barlow

Thank you Coronation Street for an incredible week, but more importantly, for the past 50 years. Here's to the next 50.

Killer Corrie Quotes (No.9) - Vera Duckworth on Natalie Barnes

Yesterday was Coronation Street's 50th anniversary. An incredible 1 hour long episode last night will be concluded this evening..

We're sen death, a marriage and a birth and there's more to come this evening.

To pay tribute to the world's longest current runnning soap, I'm blogging a quote a day from Corrie's past up until the big day.

Today, Vera Duckworth paints Rovers Return landlady Natalie Barnes as a hard-faced old so-and-so. Natalie of course sparked controversy when she split up the Cobbles' happiest couple - Kevin and Sally Webster in 1997.

Vera, as one half of the comic husband-and-wife double act with Jack, was always known to speak her mind and she didn't mince her words here either.

So, quote No.9...

"Natalie Barnes is that hard faced, if she fell on the pavement she'd crack a flag" - Vera Duckworth

Welsh Local Government Boundary Review SCRAPPED

Back in early September, I blogged here about the impending local government boundary reviews that were due to come into force in time for the 2012 elections and the expected loss of my Aberteifi Rhyd-Y-Fuwch ward as a part of that process.

Well, Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant has now announced that the review is not to come into force across Wales until at least 2016 because of the differential rate of progress of review across Wales.

I had a feeling that the whole process may be moved back a year until 2013 but the situation has become so acute that it has been put off for an entire local government electoral cycle.

Perhaps by 2016, there may be larger local governmental plans afoot but for not it seems, my Aberteifi Rhyd-Y-Fuwch Ward lives to fight another day.

The Minister’s full statement, with reasons for the decision, is below.

"Under directions issued by my predecessor, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales is conducting a review of the electoral arrangements in each County and County Borough Council. They have a duty to conduct such reviews at intervals of not less than 10 and not more than 15 years and to consider making proposals to Welsh Ministers for a change to those electoral arrangements. "To date the Commission has completed the electoral reviews of seven local authorities and has published the final reports for these areas. I will be considering the proposals for each area in due course.

"The directions included a requirement for the Commission to complete all the reviews by June 2011, with the intention that this would allow for orders to be made in good time for candidates to be selected and for local authority registration officers to make necessary adjustments to the electoral register in good time for the local elections of 2012.

"Despite allocating adequate resources to complete the reviews within the timescales specified in the directions the Commission has fallen considerably behind schedule. I have over the past year re-iterated to the commission the importance of delivering to these timescales. However, it has now become clear that the Commission will be unable to meet this date in respect of a number of counties.

"In considering the reports I do have before me I also have concerns about their consistency of the reports which have been issued and it is clear that in a number of cases considerable amendments would be needed in order to protect the link between councillors and the communities they represent, which I consider to be extremely important. Concern has also been expressed about administrative errors which have occurred in the process of carrying out these reviews.

"In light of these issues, in particular the delays in producing reports for a number of counties I have concluded that I will not make any orders in respect of the boundary reviews for any local authorities in Wales take effect for the 2012 elections. I do not wish to create a situation where some local authorities will conduct elections in 2012 under new arrangements and others under existing arrangements because of the imbalance inherent in such a situation. I am making this announcement now to provide certainty to local government and others concerned with the electoral process.

"Cleary the fact that the Boundary Commission has failed to deliver this programme of reviews consistently and within the agreed timescales gives me cause for concern. I have therefore instructed my officials to establish an independent review to identify why these failures have occurred and indentify actions that can be taken to ensure that the programme can be delivered efficiently and to a high standard in time for the 2016 elections."

Carl Sargeant, Minister for Social Justice and Local Government

Killer Corrie Quotes (No.8) - Elsie Tanner

It's a historic day for Coronation Street. Today is the 50th anniversary of what is a British institution.

We're in the middle of a dramatic week on the Cobbles of Coronation Street. On Monday we saw a great tram crash and since then, the frantic rescue operation has been underway.

It culminates with the soap celebrating its 50th birthday tonight with a live 1 hour episode.

To pay tribute to the world's longest current runnning soap, I'm blogging a quote a day from Corrie's past up until the big day.

Today's quote comes from Elsie Tanner - the siren of the street who was there on December 9th 1960. She had more sparring battles with battle-axe Ena Sharples than she had hot dinners (or men). She was the last ever-present female character from the first episode in the show by the time she herself left in January 1984.

This quote sums her up and how she saw her life in her latter years on the street.


So, quote No.8...

"I was really something when I was young. A different lad every night of the week, they queued up just to walk me 'ome from work. An' then the dance 'alls...'Ow I come to throw meself away on a nothin' like Arnold Tanner I'll never know. I could 'ave done anythin'. Got anywhere. I don't just mean fellers. I mean life generally. I was a fighter...I walked down this street last night in the pourin' rain an' cried...for a girl 'oo once 'ad guts, and hope...only she's dead now. I'm not sure just when it was she died" - Elsie Howard (nee Tanner)

Killer Corrie Quotes (No.7) - Alec Gilroy on Mike Baldwin

We're in the middle of a dramatic week on the Cobbles of Coronation Street. On Monday we saw a great tram crash in Coronation Street. Last night we saw the first frenetic efforts to help those trapped in the rubble and no doubt that will all intensify this evening.

It will all culminate with the soap celebrating its 50th birthday tomorrow, 9th December with a live 1 hour episode.

To pay tribute to the world's longest current runnning soap, I'm blogging a quote a day from Corrie's past up until the big day.

Today, it's Rovers Return landlord Alec Gilroy giving a glowing endorsement of Mike Baldwin's management style.

Both were well known characters and in many of their ways and outlooks on life were quite similar. But the mutual 'toughness' didn't necessarily do Alec as well in life as it did Mike.

One of the most moving stories that I can ever recall from watching 20 years of life on the Cobbles was the fall from the heights of old that Mike suffered as he struggled with alzheimers. His death in the arms of life-long arch-enemy Ken Barlow was as harrowing and yet apt as could have been envisaged.

So, quote No.7...

"Mike Baldwin might be a smooth lecherous Cockney. But there's aren't many of the boss class left like him. Dedicated to grinding the faces of the working classes and laughing all the way to the bank. Now that's what I call job satisfaction" - Alec Gilroy