Len Fairclough

{{Infobox character| }}
 * character name  = Len Fairclough
 * image           = [[Image:Len_fairclough.jpg|180px]]
 * occupation      = Builder
 * born            = 5th November 1924
 * birthplace      = Liverpool
 * residence       =
 * died            = 7th December 1983
 * father          = Ned Fairclough
 * mother          = Grace Fairclough
 * sibling(s)      =
 * spouse(s)       = Nellie Briggs (1949) Rita Fairclough (1977)
 * children        = Stanley Fairclough {1950)
 * first appearance = 25th January 1961
 * last appearance = 11th May 1983
 * duration        = 1961-1983
 * played by       = Peter Adamson

Leonard "Len" Fairclough, builder and councillor, was the epitome of the working class Northern male of the middle part of the 20th century. Hard working and hard drinking, Len was twice married, though Elsie Tanner, perhaps his one true love, turned down his offer of marriage.

Early life
Leonard Fairclough was born in Liverpool on 5th November 1924. An only child, Len moved with his parents to Weatherfield when he was a boy, growing up at the height of the Depression. He left school at fourteen to become an apprentice bricklayer, but eventually escaped to sea, serving in the Navy during the second World War. During his time on active service Len served with the Russian Convoys, protecting the cargo ships carrying supplies across Arctic seas. His fellow servicemen included Bill Gregory and Alan Howard.

Upon returning to civilian life in 1946 Len settled in Weatherfield. He found work with Birtwistle's Construction as a carpenter and for a time enjoyed the life of a bachelor, spending his evenings propping up the bar at the Rovers Return Inn with friend Harry Hewitt or entertaining young women.

On one evening, Len and Harry went on double dates with Nellie Briggs and Lizzie Harding. Both of them were interested in Nellie and ended up fighting over her, getting thrown out of the Rovers in the process. Len went on to marry Nellie on 12th July 1949 and their son Stanley was born on 8th June 1950. By his own admission, Len was a terrible husband and father, as he had enjoyed the life of a single man too much and Nellie was a nag. He often didn't invite her to functions where other men brought their wives, and when at time he treated her like a servant, and expected her to cook and clean while he spent the evening drinking.

A Time of change
Len's settled existance was to change in 1962 when Nellie decided it was time to end her marriage. Nellie had found out that Len had been doing private jobs, and skipping work to build a fireplace for Elsie Tanner at 11 Coronation Street. Nellie left Len, taking Stanley with her. Rather than fight for his marriage, Len spent more time with Elsie. They came to an arrangement whereby Elsie would help Len around the home, cooking and cleaning for him. Shocked by this behaviour Martha Longhurst, a neighbour, reported Len to his bosses and he was dismissed shortly afterwards. Upset by the gossip, Elsie stopped helping Len at home and shortly afterwards Nellie returned to Len. It was a short reconciliation though, lasting less than a year. When Len was charged with assault for hitting Dave Smith, Nellie was humiliated that Len had been fighting over another women and abandoned him for good, leaving for a new life in Nottingham with Stanley and Harry Bailey, an insurance agent.

After setting himself up as a builder, leasing a yard near his home to work out of, Len took on an apprentice: local boy Jerry Booth. When divorce proceedings began, he started to court Elsie Tanner properly and swiftly proposed. She turned him down on 22nd November 1963, telling him she valued their friendship and was worried they would grow to despise each other.

Fairclough's first big break came when he was contracted to make alterations on the new Viaduct Street Social Club. Len took on another apprentice, Eddie Thomas, and briefly dated a friend of his, Joyce Lennox, a machinist at Elliston's Raincoat Factory. He was dismayed when he found out Joyce was more interested in Eddie. When Minnie Caldwell injured herself on a staircase Len had built, Len found himself paying £50 compensation, and with no work coming in he had to sack Jerry and Eddie, despite Jerry falling into debt.

In 1964 Nellie passed away, and Len again proposed to Elsie, suggesting they provide a home for Stanley. At Elsie's suggestion, they had a trial marriage, but she refused to get intimate or cook his meals for him. Len came to see that she was right; they wouldn't work as a couple. Len decided that Stanley would stay in Nottingham with Harry Bailey.

Fairclough and Booth
In 1965, Len took on Norma Gee as housekeeper, but dropped her when he realised she had designs on him. He was surprised when Jerry returned, and immediately gave him his job back. Friction was soon caused between them when Len turned down a job converting flats in Blackburn, and William Piggott talked Jerry into taking the contract himself by offering to give him money to pay back money he owed Len. Len had known that Piggott wanted it done cheaply and Jerry returned when the job folded. Len was angry at Jerry for a while but soon calmed down and offered him, as a birthday present, a partnership in his firm, and let him lodge at his house.

Len thought he had hit the jackpot in 1966 when brewery Newton & Ridley gave him a contract. Len took on Ray Langton as plumber. While on the job, Len spent most of his time drinking and playing cards, annoying Jerry who was worried that he would bring the firm down. Len lost the contract when Jerry fell off sub-standard scaffolding built by Len. Len made reperations to Jerry and sacked Ray when he threatened Lucille Hewitt.

Councillor Fairclough
Len entered local politics in 1966, elected on a policy backing slum clearances. He defeated local publican Annie Walker at the hustings, winning the residents over by promising to fence off the canal. After winning the election, however, he opposed the move. When Paul Cheveski, Elsie's five-year-old grandson, wandered off and fell in the canal, Len provided Elsie with emotional support. However, when Elsie found out what Led had done, she held him responsible for Paul's near-death. Ivan Cheveski, the boy's father, attempted to physically assault Len as a result of this, but held back when he learnt his son was well.

In mid-1967 Len invested £300 of Fairclough & Booth's money in an ill-fated property deal. To prevent anything like that happening again, Jerry insisted on restructuring the company, forming a limited company with the pair as equal partners, with Emily Nugent doing the company's books.

Stanley returned to Weatherfield later that year and started working for Len. Stanley was disrespectful towards Len but Len allowed it as he felt guilty that he had never been a good father. An accident led to Stanley being trapped in the Yard whilst it was on fire and Len almost lost his life attempting to rescue him. Stanley realised he was not happy and returned to Nottingham.

Len became an unpopular figure in Coronation Street when he gave them news that the area was being developed, and half the Street knocked down. Len got a plumbing contract for the new Maisonettes, but refused to re-employ Ray Langton, favouring Stan Ogden even though Stan had nearly killed his workmates by dropping a partition. Len reluctantly gave Ray a job and sent Stan to do other jobs. When neighbour Ken Barlow and his family moved into one of the Maisonettes, Len bought Ken's old house, 9 Coronation Street, and knocked down his old house so he could expand the Yard. When Jerry's divorce came through, however, Jerry left the area for pastures new, ending the partnership. Ray continued to work for Len and moved into No.9 as a lodger when Len thumped him for his attitude towards his previous landlady, Elsie Tanner.

The end of Len and Elsie
In 1967, Elsie married American GI Steve Tanner, but they separated the following year. Steve tried to reconcile in 1968 but Elsie decided to turn him down. Although Len didn't disguise his dislike of Steve or the way he treated Elsie, when Steve was murdered on 25th September he claimed not to be involved. Len admitted to going to see Steve, and emerged as the prime suspect, but the police were unable to charge him. Elsie's lingering suspicions that Len had murdered her husband caused a rift between the pair. Len was annoyed at Elsie's attitude towards him and ran off with the petty cash from the Yard, losing the firm a contract due to his unavailability.

Upon his return, his landlady Marj Griffin followed him to Weatherfield, having left her husband Basil for Len. Len made every attempt to get her to leave and was surprised when Basil showed up and told her not to return. Len tried to scare Marj off by proposing, and was horrified when she accepted. Ray helped Len out by pretending two local boys were Len's children, and Marj left him, refusing to be a mother.

In 1969, the Yard fell into debt, and a concerned Elsie gave Jack Walker £300 to give to Len in his name, as she knew Len would refuse the money if he thought it was from Elsie. Elsie was surprised when Len announced his intention to use the money to make a new start with Town Hall clerk Janet Reid, although Janet felt Len was too keen and smothered her with his attentions. Len had become besotted but when Janet ended the affair Len blamed Elsie and slapper her, only to be reprimanded by Jack. Jack revealed that it was actually Elsie who had provided the £300. Len sold his van and tracked down Elsie to repay her. She told him their friendship was finally at an end.

Len overworked to pay Elsie back, even missing Council meetings in the process. The situation was made worse when Ray set up his own business and stole Len's customers, but in 1970 Ray returned with his tail between his legs and agreed to enter into a partnership with Len.

Bringing in the new
Len began the new decade torn between two potential lovers, shopkeeper Maggie Clegg and barmaid Anita Reynolds. Through he proposed to Anita, he had a change of heart when he discovered that she was young enough to be his daughter. A reconciliation of sorts followed with Elsie, with Len acting as a witness to her third marriage, to his old friend Alan Howard.

Later that year, Len thwarted an attempt by Willie Piggott to steal Len's contract for a student hostel by selling cheap material to Roscoe and Pitts so he could make a profit while Roscoe could get the contract by offering a lower rate. Piggott had used Emily Nugent to spy on Len to get details of his tender for the contract.

Len briefly employed Gina Fletcher as housekeeper, despite her lack of skills. He sacked her when he found out she had invited her boyfriend around during the day. In 1971, Jerry returned and Len took him on at the Yard, and Jerry moved back into No.9. Jerry effectively became Len and Ray's housekeeper and insisted on being paid for his work.

In 1972, Len went out with Rita Bates, and helped her find accommodation as her home was about to be demolished and Len was on the housing committee. Although Rita used the name of Bates, she wasn't actually married to Harry Bates. When Harry found out about Rita and Len, he beat her up and threw her out. Len warned Harry to stay away from Rita but Rita returned to Harry anyway. A short time later, Len saw Rita singing in a nightclub and fell for her, although he had competition from Benny Lewis, who was employing Len to convert a penthouse for him. Benny proposed to Rita and she accepted, but when Len told Rita he wanted a relationship, she left Benny for him. Despite being rejected, Benny still gave Rita a job as hostess and resident singer at his new club, the Capricorn, but on opening night Rita showed Len up by getting into a fight with a woman. The incident was witnessed by several top officials, including the current Mayor of Weatherfield Harold Chapman. Len was being considered to succeed Chapman as Mayor and his chances were hurt by his association with Rita. Angry, Len called Rita common and she threw a drink over him. Len told the Mayor that he and Rita had split up but Alf Roberts was still chosen as the new Mayor over Len. As Alf was a friend, Len graciously agreed to be Deputy Mayor.

The long road to marriage
Len and Rita reconciled in 1973 when he made her resign from the Capricon, which had been bought over by someone who was using the club as a cover to make pornographic films. Len decided to make a big gesture and installed Rita as manager of a Rosamund Street newsagent he had bought, with a lending library and cafe at the back, even allowing her an assistant. The move angered Ray who had designs on the unit himself. The relationship went sour however when Len went on a trip to France and didn't invite Rita.

VAT was introduced that same year. The firm was asked to pay VAT on a job done for a firm that had gone bust before paying them, and Len steadfastly refused to pay. To protect the newsagent, now called The Kabin, he transferred it into Rita's name, and went to court over the VAT issue. When Jerry paid the money, Len and Ray were angry and disappeared for a while. The business thrived with Jerry running it alone, and upon their return Len and Ray made Jerry a partner.

In 1974, Len kept a redevelopment plan that would see Coronation Street demolished quiet from the residents. He wanted to sell his house and the Kabin and get a good deal on them before the development was common knowledge, but Rita refused to sell as the Kabin was now in her name. When he continued to put pressure on her, Rita told the residents about the redevelopment. The news sent shockwaves through the Street and the usually timid Emily Bishop threw a brick through Len's window in protest. Fortunately, the plan was voted out by the Councillors, including Len. Len seized the opportunity to propose to Rita, and she accepted, but she quickly broke it off when he wouldn't commit to a date.

Over the next few years, Len and Rita started seeing other people. Len had a brief fling with Bet Lynch, neglecting the business to spend time with her. Bet broke it off with she realised he was only interested in casual sex, and she was looking for a more meaningful relationship. In 1975, Len was suspected of murdering Lynne Johnson, an abused housewife who had turned to Len for help. Len spent two nights in the cells until Lynne's husband Roy confessed to the murder. Len was surprised when Bet, not Rita, went to see him in prison and fought for his release.

Ray moved out of No.9 when he married Deirdre Hun, who was the Yard's secretary. Later that year, Jerry died from a heart attack.

In 1976, Rita was beginning to warm to Len again, but Elsie Howard's return to the Street put Rita out. As Len was still Rita's boss, he was able to prevent her from taking time off to sing in Torquay. At the opening night of the Gatsby club, where Rita was singing, Rita knocked Len out in anger over the way he was treating her. When he came out of hospital, he pretended to be sicker than he was as he enjoyed Rita taking care of him. When she found out he was putting it on, Rita threw his washing out the window.

The following year, Stanley visited with his fiancee, Liz Brocklebank, and told Len he wasn't invited to the wedding. Liz wanted to make peace between father and son and sent Len an invite anyway, but he refused to go as he wasn't wanted.

Keen to make a new start, Rita took a four-month singing contract in Tenerife, quitting her job at the Kabin. She turned down Len's proposal, seeing it as a desperate means to keep her in Weatherfield, but she had a change of heart when Len appeared at the airport and begged her to stay. He had an eventful stag night, first refusing to sleep with Marie Stanton and then twisting his ankle after falling while drunk. On 20th April, Rita and Len finally tied the knot at St. Mary's church, with Alf Roberts as best man. The couple went to Tenerife on their honeymoon and Rita moved into No.9.

Len loses his seat
Len and Rita's marriage quickly settled into a routine, with Len believing himself to be in charge and taking Rita for granted. He persuaded Rita to retire from showbusiness, even though it would earn them extra money.

Later in the year, Ray and Len decided new terms on their partnership, which stood at 60/40 in Len's favour. To avoid Rita's complaints, Len and Ray agreed to keep the new arrangement from their wives.

Len and Rita's marriage hit a low point when Len got drunk on Alf's stag night and made advances towards the arresting policewoman. When an appalled Rita denied knowing him, Len spent the night in a cell, only just making it to Alf's wedding in time the next day to serve as best man. When the scandal hit the newspapers, the Council asked for Len's resignation, but as he was pleading not guilty he decided to fight the gossip. Len was fined and lost his seat on the Council.

Unfortunately, more trouble for the Faircloughs was to follow. When Len and Ray took out a contract to convert an old house into a hotel, Len stored £3,000 worth of material in Doug Clayton's warehouse, which later burned down in a fire. As the warehouse's contents weren't insured, the firm lost a fortune, and Len took out a loan from the bank, with Rita returning to singing to help pay it back, even though it meant performing at second-rate men's clubs. The hotel development went bust, leaving Fairclough & Langton £6,000 in debt. Len agreed to a repayment scheme and worked around the clock. It was a huge relief when the hotel job was back on.

Later in 1978, Ray split up from Deirdre and emigrated to Holland, leaving Len on his own at the Yard. He reluctantly took on Eddie Yeats as labourer.

Rita makes a stand
By 1979, Rita was growing increasingly unhappy with the marriage. Len's Christmas present that year was a mere box of chocolates. In 1980, Rita gave Len a list of alterations she wanted done to No.9 to make it liveable. As Len scoffed at her demands, Rita walked out and went to stay with Gatsby manager Ralph Lancaster. When Len went to see Rita, she accused him of treating her like a housekeeper, not a woman. She decided to go further away so that Len couldn't track her down. After two months of loneliness, Len was alerted by Sam Littlewood to Rita's whereabouts, and he went to Blackpool to see her and persuade her to return, promising things would change. After some consideration, Rita returned to Weatherfield, and Len set to work on the house.

Rita was keen to prove to Len that she was a good businesswoman and decided to secure the business a contract, with Len working at the Kabin in the meantime. He was impressed when Rita got a contract with Bob Atkinson, but when he made it clear there were strings attached, Len stepped in to see him off.

As Rita had never had children of her own, she eventually became interested in adopting. The couple pursued it in 1981 but were told they were too old to adopt. They were however accepted as foster parents, fostering first 13-year-old John Spencer. Len was surprised that John didn't like football, but made an effort by taking him fishing. In 1982, they fostered Sharon Gaskell, who liked them so much she decided to stay with them longer. After falling for married Brian Tilsley, however, Sharon left Weatherfield to take a job in Sheffield. Len had grown to care about Sharon and blamed Brian for her departure.

Death
In 1981, Len became interested in building a house where No.7 had stood until its collapse in 1965. He did such a good job with it that Rita wanted to sell No.9 and move into the house next door. Len reluctantly bowed to pressure from Rita and sold No.9 to Chalkie Whiteley, although the neighbours didn't get on as Len had left No.9 in a state and in revenge Chalkie didn't pass on Len's mail.

While on a job in Bolton, Len fitted a job for widow Marjorie Proctor, and comforted her over her dead husband. They soon became lovers. On 19th December 1983, while driving to Bolton to see Marjorie, Len fell asleep at the wheel of his van and crashed his car. He was killed instantly. In the wake of his death, Rita found out about Len's affair and met Marjorie. She tried not to let it tarnish her memories of Len.