Template:9 January

9th January 1978: Ernie Bishop had been one of the first workers employed by Mike Baldwin at his new factory when it opened in 1976, filling the post of wages' clerk. Popular with the staff but teased on many occasions, no one could have imagined what would befall the lay preacher on a cold January morning in 1978. Two thugs, Dave Lester and Ed “Tommo” Jackson, staged a wages robbery after following Mike and Ernie’s journey to and from the bank to collect the payroll. Armed with a sawn-off shotgun, the two men demanded the money from Ernie in his office and tragedy ensued when Mike unwittingly burst in and the gun went off in Tommo’s hand. Ernie was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead after surgeons tried to save his life. His wife Emily was left a devastated widow and the two men, soon captured by the police, received life sentences.
 * For more information see Episode 1772 (9th January 1978).