Torquay’s Other History: The Soaps 1: Elsie Tanner, Torquay housekeeper

By Kevin Dixon, on Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Elsie Tanner: life as a housekeeper in Torquay beckonned, by didn’t keep her away from Corrie for long

Joe Lynch (1925-2001) was an Irish actor who played Harold Digby on Coronation Street in 1975. However, he is perhaps best remembered for his role in the 1967-1971 sitcom Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width as tailor Patrick Kelly.

Joe returned to Corrie as Ron Mather from 1978 to 1979.

Joe Lynch: returned to Corrie
as Ron Mather

He played an Irishman who had worked on the markets and had tried emigrating to Canada. As well as being a championship ballroom dancer, he liked a flutter on the horses. He worked as a self-employed taxi driver and one of his fares in August 1978 was Elsie Tanner. They fell in love following the break-up of her third marriage.

Tiring of life as a taxi driver, Ron found a job as a chauffeur to a Mr Frazer who had made his fortune as a Manchester industrialist and then retired to Torquay. Ron persuaded Elsie to apply to be Mr Frazer’s housekeeper. At the last minute, Elsie backed out. Even the sight of Ron driving a Rolls Royce couldn’t tempt Elsie to the English Riviera.

In November 1979, Ron cropped up again, and this time Elsie agreed to take up the still-vacant housekeeper’s job. Gail was getting married to Brian and Ron agreed to give her away. But Mr Frazer said he was needed that weekend. Elsie left for Torquay with Ron, planning to return for the wedding, though she fell ill and couldn’t attend either.

Yet, we all knew that Elsie would return to Wetherfield. She finally left Torquay because Mr Frazer had been sexually harassing her, and came back on Christmas Eve 1979. Ron begged her to stay in Torquay with him, but he had turned a blind eye to Frazer’s behaviour in order to keep his job. Elsie ended their relationship and told him to leave.