Minnie Caldwell

Minnie Caldwell (neé Carlton) lived in Number 5 from 1962 to 1976. As one of Coronation Street's resident pensioners, Minnie struggled to live on her pension money and took in many lodgers. Minnie's best friend was Ena Sharples, and the pair were often seen bickering in the snug of the Rovers Return.

Before 1960
Minnie Carlton was born on 28th September 1900 to Bob and Amy Carlton, and lived in Jubilee Terrace, around the corner from Coronation Street, until 1962. During her schooling days at Hardcastle's Factory School, she met someof her lifelong friends including Handel Gartside, Ena Schofield and Martha Hartley. Though she married young, Minnie was also widowed young when Armistead Caldwell died in 1935, and the couple never had children. By 1960, she was taking care of her elderly mother after retiring from Earnshaw's Mill.

Triumvirate
When Minnie started collecting her pension, most of her time was spent either looking after her mother in Jubilee Terrace or spending time with Ena and Martha, who by now were also both widows. Generally they could be found drinking milk stout in the Rovers Return snug, slyly but shamelessly passing judgement on their neighbours (as well as each other). Minnie was the quietest of the three, and her voice was often drowned out by sharp-tongued, decisive mission caretaker Ena and gossipy cleaner Martha.

When Ena quit her job at the Mission Hall in 1961, she moved in with Minnie and her mother, and quickly dominated the house. It wasn't for a few months that Ena was offered her job back, and she went home, tired of Minnie's bossy mother and her cat, Bobby. In the coming months, Minnie's mother's health declined, and she died in her bed a short time later, aged 94. Unwilling to go on living in the same house, Minnie moved to 5 Coronation Street with Bobby.

Facing a rent increase, Minnie's finances were strained until she took in Jed Stone as a lodger. Childless Minnie's life was brightened by Jed's presence, even though he had a criminal past (which gave Ena a reason to dislike him). Jed looked upon Minnie as a mother figure and called her "Ma", and when he returned home to Liverpool, he didn't know how to tell Minnie and did a midnight flit. Minnie was devastated that "Sunny Jim", as she called him, had left so suddenly and left her in financial difficulty again.

In 1964, Minnie briefly took over Martha's job at Viaduct Street Social Club while Martha was away. Due to dodgy building work, Minnie fell through the bannister and tore a ligament. Minnie was fine, but the guilty party paid for a holiday for Minnie while her solicitors sued Len Fairclough. An out-of-court settlement was reached, but while Minnie was away at the seaside Martha died of a heart attack. Minnie returned in time for the funeral.