The Year Was… 1987

INTRODUCTION

Britain got cold and, in 1987, it wasn’t just the weather. The weather men got it wrong and the Great Storm hit Britain causing untold damage. The winter was so bad, sub-zero temperatures and snow drifts became a regular thing. And to make it worse, Thatcher had just been re-elected. Icy.

In Walford, it would take more than a hurricane to dissuade the residents to cause drama. 1987 was no different, with an attacker on the loose, Mary battling with social services for Annie, Pauline single-handedly keeping the Fowlers going and Den and Angie going to war! What a year!

EVENTS

Angie and Den: At War!
Divorce was not going to be a pleasant and easy task for these two and they spent the year at each other’s throats. She wanted everything and started running the Dagmar, rival to the Vic run by Willmott-Brown and the Vic floundered.

Sharon was so distressed, Simon and Duncan were quick to comfort her at various times. Den made a move for new girl Magda, who only had eyes for Simon, so Sharon, eventually having enough, organised a blind date for her parents in the hope of bringing them back together. A night of passion had Angie give up her role in the Dagmar and return to the Vic – strictly as a business associate, she was keen to add…

Colin and Barry: Oh, I Say!
Oh dear. Two people destined to be the very literal interpretation of ‘opposites attract’, Barry and Colin did not have the best start on the Square. Some people, like Pete and Nick, objected to having ‘poofs’ on the Square, although the wise women of Walford had lived life a little and took Colin into their confidences. Dot had a bit of a shock when she walked in and found them in bed together, but even she conceded that it took all sorts. Colin was a neat-freak and Barry was a slob however, and eventually they parted ways. It would be 30 years before they would reunite properly.

Colin and Barry’s first kiss – and the press went nuts!

Michelle and Pauline: Fight For Your Man!
A ‘who could be more miserable’ competition broke out this year between Michelle, tired of being Mrs. Lofty Holloway, and Pauline, who being very astute, realised that her daughter’s marriage was one simply of convenience. She convinced Michelle to give it a go and she promised to try: by the end of the year, Michelle would be pregnant – and neither she nor her mother was happy about it. Of course, Pauline had troubles of her own. Aiding Lou through funny turns and Arthur having depression didn’t help and, for a while, she considered running away from it all with a lovely man named Derek. But Pauline couldn’t cheat and she returned to Arthur, reuniting with Mark in Southend and bringing him home for Christmas – which in truth is all Pauline ever wanted!

The lovely **Derek** pursues a flattered **Pauline**!

Mary Makes A Change
Mary decided to clean up her act this year when, while she was on the game, little Annie nearly died in a fire after being left at home alone and her parents turned up to take little Annie away. Mary changed her look and, helped by Rod Norman, put her life back on track and got Annie back – only for grandfather Chris to drunkenly crash the car and nearly kill her!

**Mary** gave **Darren** a warm welcome!

The Walford Attacker
A mystery man stalked the women of Walford in 1987. Sharon narrowly escaped, although Pat was not so lucky and ended up in hospital. Every man in the Square became a suspect, until Debbie managed to catch the complete stranger – with her martial-arts expertise – long enough for him to get caught, but not before Pete got himself in trouble for smacking a copper!

**Pat**, in hospital recovering from the attack

The Other Stuff
Kathy learns her daughter who she gave up for adoption would like to get in touch. Guizin moves to the Square with her children and they accidentally lose their pet snake. Ali tries to sleep with any woman who will have him before repatching his marriage with Sue. The Carpenters leave Walford. New girl Donna turns up and gets to know the youngsters of the Square. Charlie and Nick Cotton turn up to fleece Dot – at the same time! And Pat takes a trip to Clacton and meets an old flame by the name of Frank Butcher…