George Barton

George Barton was the father of Peggy Barton, one-time girlfriend of Ken Barlow's. Having previously done battle in their respective roles as supervisor and shop steward at the Mark Brittain Warehouse three months previously, Ken and Peggy encountered each other again at the Rovers Return in November 1974, by which time Peggy was in a new job. Despite their opposing roles at the workplace, Ken and Peggy respected and liked each other, and so when Ken offered to drive Peggy home, she made him agree to stop for a drink.

When Ken and Peggy arrived at the Barton residence, George and Peggy's sister Frank Barton were engrossed in the football on television and barely looked up although George did recognise Ken's name from earlier. George derided football as a game for schoolgirls, causing Frank to joke that George once had a trial for rugby league and it addled his brains. The next morning, as George got ready for work, Peggy confided in him that she liked Ken, although George did not offer an opinion on the matter.