Changes: Alma Halliwell

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Alma Marie Halliwell (previously Sedgewick and Baldwin) was the majority owner of Jim's Cafe in Rosamund Street and the long-suffering wife of Mike Baldwin from 1992 to 1999.

Alma divorced her first husband Jim Sedgewick in 1982 after he ran off with a florist and got the café as part of the settlement. For a while, she was content to live off the proceeds but in 1989 a cash-strapped Alma was forced to take a more active role. To keep her freshly demoted manager Gail Tilsley onboard, Alma sold her 40% of the business and the pair ran the café successfully until 1997 when Alma sold her share to Roy Cropper. During this period, Alma lived in the flat above the café, 12a Rosamund Street.

Soon after moving in, Alma set her sights on Mike Baldwin, owner of Baldwin's Casuals. They were on and off for several years, with Mike generally treating Alma like a reserve, dumping her whenever somebody came along who could help his career. In 1992, Mike realised what a good thing he had with Alma and persuaded her to marry him.

Alma and Mike's marriage was a battle of wits, with Mike often dismissing Alma's opinions. Keen to prove that she was just as capable of running a business as him, Alma went into catering in 1996, and the following year she put her money from the café into Mike's new factory Baldwin's Sportswear, which he opened after selling MVB Motors to Don Brennan at an inflated price. When Don's life spiralled out of control, he torched the factory, kidnapped Alma in his taxi and drove them into Weatherfield Canal. Both survived. Alma then moved onto pastures new, gaining employment at Firman's Freezers and divorcing Mike following his one-night-stand with Julia Stone.

Glamorous and kind, Alma was led by her heart and had it broken many times but would always come back stronger. She was less committed to her work, frequently leaving Gail in the lurch at the café to go shopping with Audrey Roberts or run errands for Mike. She died in 2001 from cervical cancer, aged 55.

Biography

"Ken, do something!"

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Alma Halliwell married café owner Jim Sedgewick in 1976. The marriage was a disaster, and when Alma fell pregnant, she had an abortion rather than bring a child into a loveless home.

When her marriage finally folded in 1982, Alma got Jim's Cafe in Rosamund Street in the divorce settlement. Jim ran off with a florist and Alma went to Florida with pools winner Philip. Unable to deal with his new fortune, Philip squandered money on sex, drugs, booze, and bad investments.

In 1988, Alma argued with Gail Tilsley over a sandwich round that Gail had started with Gina Seddon. Alma wanted the round to stop, stating that Gail should be concentrating on the cafe but Gail threatened to resign unless Alma allowed the sandwich round to continue and wanted a share of the profits. Alma finally caved in and agreed. By 1989 Alma was broke, and returned to Weatherfield to run the café, selling Gail a 40% share for £9,000. She fell for Mike Baldwin immediately, and tried to seduce him with oysters. This however backfired, as they made her ill and she ended up rushing backwards and forwards to the bathroom. She eventually managed to seduce Mike after beating him in a game of golf but he dumped her for Dawn Prescott. Alma took up briefly with married man Terry Conway, before returning to Mike as his live-in lover in his luxury dockland apartment.

Mike had sold his factory and was looking around for a new investment, but a dodgy Spanish land deal went sour and Mike lost his money. Returning to the rag trade, Mike operated a sweatshop in the cafe flat, until it was closed down by Health and Safety Officials for noise pollution. He then took up work as a salesman at Ingram's Textiles - and after the death of boss Peter Ingram, took up with his wife Jackie. After fretting over which woman to remain with, he dumped Alma in December 1990. A distraught Alma spent time with best friend Audrey Roberts to recover, then got revenge by vandalising Jackie's bedroom. Mike still had feelings for Alma, and even felt some responsibility and contributed to the rent of Jim's cafe without Alma's knowledge. These payments caused the destruction Mike's relationship with Jackie. One week after they were married in July 1991, she learnt about the money and initiated divorce proceedings. Meanwhile, Alma had taken up with reliable Ken Barlow after meeting him at a Spanish night class. He planned to take her to a hotel for New Year's Eve but Alma was still drawn to Mike. She spent Christmas Day with him, and when she confessed to Ken at the hotel, he dumped her and left. Mike pursued her again, and they were married in June 1992.

Alma settled down to work at the café with Gail and an assortment of helpers like Audrey, Martin Platt, Phyllis Pearce, and later, Roy Cropper. She also rented the flat above the café to many Street residents including Angie Freeman, Fiona Middleton, Steve McDonald, Maxine Heavey, and the notorious Tanya Pooley.

Alma's marriage was not perfect. In particular, she was well aware of Mike's arrogant and underhand treatment of people, and often found herself apologising for his behaviour. She sympathised with Ken, Jim McDonald, and even Don Brennan (before he tried to kill her). Mike also had a habit of patronising his wife and making decisions, overriding her opinion. In March 1995, Alma received a letter informing her that Jim Sedgewick had died three months before and she inherited £2,000 - Mike was put out when Alma splashed out on a convertible MG. The same year, she got a job catering for The Wheatsheaf pub in Ramsden, Mike's chauvinistic dismissal of her talents compelled her to develop the sideline into ABC Catering (Alma Baldwin Catering). Alma was also only too aware of Mike's roving eye and acted jealously when Mike stepped in to help long-time friend Deirdre Rachid, and when he employed Liz McDonald.

In January 1996, misfortune visited the Baldwins when Audrey's son, Stephen Reid, arrived from Canada as a representative of Kbec clothing. He was looking for an English manufacturing base and asked Alma to provide catering for a business presentation. Alma was attracted to Stephen and later made a pass at him, which was embarrassingly rebuffed. Later, she was incensed when she told Mike and he told her he wasn't worried. Mike won the contract to make clothing and re-established a factory, selling his garage to Don Brennan at an inflated price. Don went bankrupt and his girlfriend Josie Clarke left him. He nursed a grievance against Mike that intensified when he was done for drink-driving when about to pick Mike up in his taxi. Don's hatred was to threaten Alma's life. He attempted suicide and left a threatening message on the factory answer machine. When Stephen heard about what had happened, he cancelled the contract with Mike, who blamed Alma. Stephen later taunted Alma with her feelings, and accused her of secretly enjoying it when he ruined Mike, Alma dismissed him and was fully reconciled with her husband. The affair caused ructions in her friendships. Audrey wouldn't hear a word against her son and accused her of being angry because Stephen had rejected her.

Mike needed capital to continue with the factory, and when Alma offered to sell her share of the café, Gail felt that she was left high and dry. When Stephen accused her of trying to wreck Gail's business to get to him, she slapped him. Alma was set to sell to pizza chain Pizza Heaven, and dismissed an offer by Roy Cropper, believing him mentally incompetent but relented when Gail pleaded with her and Roy bought her share for £35,000. Alma and Gail were friends again.

Mike continued making and selling counterfeit Kbec gear, until Don burned the factory down and shopped him for arson and insurance fraud. Initially, even Alma doubted his innocence but lack of proof meant Mike was never charged. Don looked at other means of revenge and chose Alma, kidnapping her and taking her on a terror trip around Weatherfield, pouring out his complaints, before plunging into the canal. Alma was lucky to escape with her life and Don was sent to a mental institution. After the stress, Alma wanted to emigrate to Florida. Mike again upset her by dismissing her dreams and embarked on a business deal with Angie Freeman to found the Underworld underwear factory. She looked around for a job and got one at Firman's Freezers. Once more Mike bowled in with other ideas, whisking Alma away for a holiday to Cyprus, telling Curly to forget her job. When they returned however, Alma was determined that Mike would not get the better of her. She secured a shelf-stacker's position at Firman's and was soon made Employee of the Month - her face even featured in Firman's promotions. However, Don was not yet finished with the Baldwins. Alma visited him in hospital and he apologized but later escaped and attacked Mike with a chair-leg at the Factory. Failing to kill him, he took Alma's car, ploughing into the viaduct and killed himself.

At Firman's, Alma met assistant manager Hayley Patterson who was friendless and lacked self-confidence. Feeling sorry for her, Alma attempted to get Hayley to stand up for herself but Hayley latched onto Alma, who she considered her only friend. Deciding to set Hayley up with Curly, Alma held and impromptu dinner party and invited Hayley, Curly, Audrey and Roy Cropper (who was invited to simply make up the numbers). The dinner party was a disaster with Audrey getting drunk and revealing Alma's misjudging matchmaking... however Hayley found a connection with Roy, as they were both socially awkward and often lonely. Friendship blossomed, until Hayley told Roy she was a transsexual waiting for her gender reassignment operation. Roy rejected her, and Hayley confided her secret with Alma, who was caring and sympathetic and pushed Roy to start treating Hayley right. Hayley and Roy were eventually reunited shortly before she left to go abroad for her final operations.

On the domestic front, Alma had to cope with an unwelcome guest. Deirdre Rachid was charged with fraud and as usual Mike had stepped in to help her, offering her a place to stay. Alma was not best pleased, especially when she was placed on suicide watch after Mike caught Deirdre staring wistfully at some pills. Deirdre was eventually convicted and sent to jail, but shortly afterwards released after new evidence of Jon Lindsay's criminal activities.

Hayley returned to Weatherfield in June 1998 and restarted her relationship with Roy, to Alma's concern, but happiness. She was amazed when Hayley passed a test and got a job in Mike's factory.

Accidentally, she told Mike that Hayley was transsexual after a social security mix-up and Mike decided to sack her, to Alma's horror. She pleaded and eventually scolded Mike to give her her job back and eventually he relented, but never really accepted her. When Hayley's secret finally did come out to the factory, Roy launched an attack on Alma for telling Mike in the first place.

In February 1999, Roy and Hayley fell out just before the Valentines Disco but Alma persuaded Roy not to give up on her and to go along. He did, and he proposed to Hayley there and then. Alma was asked to be Matron of Honour, and allowed Hayley to stay at their house the night before the wedding, in April, to Mike's displeasure.

In May 1999, Alma discovered that Mike had been blackmailed following an affair with Julia Stone and they separated. Alma moved in with the recently widowed Audrey. Despite some attempt to reconcile, she realised that she no longer loved him as she had done and the marriage was over. Later that summer, she heard that Mike had been seeing another woman, and was visited by Hayley, who told her it was Mike's mouthy machinist, Linda Sykes. Alma then divorced Mike citing unreconcilable differences.

Following her divorce, Alma changed her surname back to Halliwell. Later, she was pursued by Councillor Bob Bradshaw, but it didn't last, because he was eventually arrested for taking bribes.

In October 2000, Alma, along with Mike, Ken and others, was held hostage at gunpoint in the Freshco's siege by the man who turned to be Linda Sykes's brother Dean. During this time, she became friendly with retiring security guard Frank O'Connor. They escaped unharmed and Alma and Frank became good friends.

Alma death — Alma passes away in her home

In 2001, Alma received devastating news: a misdiagnosis, combined with a missed smear test at the hospital, meant she had developed cervical cancer that had extended to such a degree, that even if she did receive treatment it wouldn't do any good. In short - Alma had terminal cancer of the cervix.

Alma, not wanting to die in hospital, passed away peacefully at Audrey's house on 17th June 2001 from the cancer with Mike Baldwin, Ken Barlow and Audrey Roberts at her side. 13 years after Alma's death, cancer would claim the life of her friend Hayley in a similar fashion.

Personality

"If you've owt to say, spit it out before it flamin' well chokes yer"

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Relationships

"If you've owt to say, spit it out before it flamin' well chokes yer"

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Hobbies and interests

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Background information

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First and last lines

"I'm sorry to keep you love... I mean you don't have to be an octopus to work here, but it does help!" (First line, to Bert Tilsley)

---

"You choose." (Final line, to Mike Baldwin, when he asked if she wanted music)

Appendices

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@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |first appearance = [[Episode 2110 (22nd June 1981)|22nd June 1981]]
 |last appearance = [[Episode 5060 (20th June 2001)|20th June 2001]]
-|duration = [[1981]], [[1982]], [[1988]], [[1989]]-[[2001]]
+|duration = [[1981]], [[1982]], [[1988]], <br>[[1989]]-[[2001]]
-|played by = [[Amanda Barrie]]|number of appearances = [[Alma Halliwell - List of appearances|1139]]}}
+|number of appearances = [[Alma Halliwell - List of appearances|1133]]
+|played by = [[Amanda Barrie]]
+}}
+'''Alma Marie Halliwell''' (previously '''Sedgewick''' and '''Baldwin''') was the majority owner of [[Jim's Cafe]] in [[Rosamund Street]] and the long-suffering wife of [[Mike Baldwin]] from [[1992]] to [[1999]].
+Alma divorced her first husband [[Jim Sedgewick]] in [[1982]] after he ran off with a florist and got the café as part of the settlement. For a while, she was content to live off the proceeds but in [[1989]] a cash-strapped Alma was forced to take a more active role. To keep her freshly demoted manager [[Gail Tilsley]] onboard, Alma sold her 40% of the business and the pair ran the café successfully until [[1997]] when Alma sold her share to [[Roy Cropper]]. During this period, Alma lived in the flat above the café, [[12a Rosamund Street]].
-'''Alma Marie Halliwell''' (previously '''Sedgewick''' and '''Baldwin''') was the owner of [[Jim's Cafe]] in [[Rosamund Street]] and the long-suffering wife of [[Mike Baldwin]] from [[1992]] to [[1999]].
+Soon after moving in, Alma set her sights on Mike Baldwin, owner of [[Baldwin's Casuals]]. They were on and off for several years, with Mike generally treating Alma like a reserve, dumping her whenever somebody came along who could help his career. In [[1992]], Mike realised what a good thing he had with Alma and persuaded her to marry him.
-Alma's first husband was [[Jim Sedgewick]] and she got the café in the divorce settlement in [[1982]], but it wasn't until [[1989]] that a cash-strapped Alma started working there full-time with co-owner [[Gail Tilsley]]. Alma was hardworking and a loyal friend but she was led by her heart and in [[1989]] she set her sights on [[Baldwin's Casuals|factory]] owner [[Mike Baldwin]]. They had a relationship but it wasn't until 1992 that they walked down the aisle, Alma putting aside her doubts about Mike's trustworthiness.
-During the marriage, Alma had frequent disagreements with Mike over his underhanded business tactics. Mike would sometimes try to appease Alma but the marriage was often a battle of wits, with Alma trying to get one over on Mike after he dismissed her opinion. Keen to prove she was just as capable as Mike, Alma started her own catering business and sold her share of the café to [[Roy Cropper]] in [[1996]], putting the money into Mike's new factory which he opened after selling his [[MVB Motors|garage]] to [[Don Brennan]] at an inflated price. When Don's life then spiralled out of control, he blamed Mike and in [[1997]] kidnapped Alma in his taxi and drove into the River Irwell. Both survived.
+Alma and Mike's marriage was a battle of wits, with Mike often dismissing Alma's opinions. Keen to prove that she was just as capable of running a business as him, Alma went into catering in [[1996]], and the following year she put her money from the café into Mike's new factory [[Baldwin's Sportswear]], which he opened after selling [[MVB Motors]] to [[Don Brennan]] at an inflated price. When Don's life spiralled out of control, he torched the factory, kidnapped Alma in his taxi and drove them into [[Weatherfield Canal]]. Both survived. Alma then moved onto pastures new, gaining employment at [[Firman's Freezers]] and divorcing Mike following his one-night-stand with [[Julia Stone]].
+Glamorous and kind, Alma was led by her heart and had it broken many times but would always come back stronger. She was less committed to her work, frequently leaving Gail in the lurch at the café to go shopping with [[Audrey Roberts]] or run errands for Mike. She died in [[2001]] from cervical cancer, aged 55.
-Alma then moved onto pastures new, getting a job at [[Freshco]] supermarket and divorcing Mike after finding out about his affair with [[Julia Stone]]. She died in [[2001]] from cervical cancer, which was already in its final stages when she found out about it. Her friends in the [[Coronation Street, Weatherfield|Street]] were Gail, [[Audrey Roberts]], [[Hayley Cropper]] and [[Ken Barlow]].
 ==Biography==
 {{major cleanup}}
-Alma Halliwell married café owner [[Jim Sedgewick]] in [[1976]]. The marriage was a disaster, and when Alma fell pregnant a year later she had an abortion rather than bring a child into a loveless home.
+Alma Halliwell married café owner [[Jim Sedgewick]] in [[1976]]. The marriage was a disaster, and when Alma fell pregnant, she had an abortion rather than bring a child into a loveless home.
-Alma made her ''Coronation Street'' debut in [[1981]], and when her marriage to Jim finally folded in [[1982]], Alma got [[Roy's Rolls|Jim's Cafe]] in [[Rosamund Street]] in the divorce settlement. Jim ran off with a florist and Alma went to [[Florida]] with pools winner Philip. Unable to deal with his new fortune, Philip squandered money on sex, drugs, booze, and bad investments.
+When her marriage finally folded in [[1982]], Alma got [[Jim's Cafe]] in [[Rosamund Street]] in the divorce settlement. Jim ran off with a florist and Alma went to [[Florida]] with pools winner Philip. Unable to deal with his new fortune, Philip squandered money on sex, drugs, booze, and bad investments.
-In [[1988]], Alma argued with Gail Tilsley over a sandwich round that Gail had started at the cafe with the help of [[Gina Seddon]]. Alma wanted the round to stop, stating that Gail should be concentrating fully on the cafe. Gail threatened to resign unless Alma allowed the sandwich round to continue and also wanted a share of the profits. Alma finally caved in and agreed.
+In [[1988]], Alma argued with [[Gail Tilsley]] over a sandwich round that Gail had started with [[Gina Seddon]]. Alma wanted the round to stop, stating that Gail should be concentrating on the cafe but Gail threatened to resign unless Alma allowed the sandwich round to continue and wanted a share of the profits. Alma finally caved in and agreed. By [[1989]] Alma was broke, and returned to [[Weatherfield]] to run the café, selling Gail a 40% share for £9,000. She fell for [[Mike Baldwin]] immediately, and tried to seduce him with oysters. This however backfired, as they made her ill and she ended up rushing backwards and forwards to the bathroom. She eventually managed to seduce Mike after beating him in a game of golf but he dumped her for [[Dawn Prescott]]. Alma took up briefly with married man [[Terry Conway]], before returning to Mike as his live-in lover in his luxury dockland apartment.
+Mike had sold his factory and was looking around for a new investment, but a dodgy Spanish land deal went sour and Mike lost his money. Returning to the rag trade, Mike operated a sweatshop in the [[Jim's Cafe flat|cafe flat]], until it was closed down by Health and Safety Officials for noise pollution. He then took up work as a salesman at [[Ingram's Textiles]] - and after the death of boss [[Peter Ingram]], took up with his wife [[Jackie Ingram|Jackie]]. After fretting over which woman to remain with, he dumped Alma in [[December 1990]]. A distraught Alma spent time with best friend [[Audrey Roberts]] to recover, then got revenge by vandalising Jackie's bedroom. Mike still had feelings for Alma, and even felt some responsibility and contributed to the rent of Jim's cafe without Alma's knowledge. These payments caused the destruction Mike's relationship with Jackie. One week after they were married in [[July 1991]], she learnt about the money and initiated divorce proceedings. Meanwhile, Alma had taken up with reliable [[Ken Barlow]] after meeting him at a Spanish night class. He planned to take her to a hotel for New Year's Eve but Alma was still drawn to Mike. She spent [[Christmas]] Day with him, and when she confessed to Ken at the hotel, he dumped her and left. Mike pursued her again, and they were married in [[June 1992]].
-By [[1989]] Alma was broke, and returned to [[Weatherfield]] to run the café, of which [[Gail Tilsley]] bought a 40% share for £9,000. She fell for [[Mike Baldwin]] immediately, and tried to seduce him with oysters. This however backfired, as she became ill and ended up rushing backwards and forwards to the bathroom. She eventually managed to seduce Mike after beating him in a game of golf. He then dumped her for [[Dawn Prescott]]. Alma took up briefly with married man [[Terry Conway]], before returning to Mike as his live-in lover in his luxury dockland apartment.
+Alma settled down to work at the café with Gail and an assortment of helpers like Audrey, [[Martin Platt]], [[Phyllis Pearce]], and later, [[Roy Cropper]]. She also rented the flat above the café to many [[Coronation Street, Weatherfield|Street]] residents including [[Angie Freeman]], [[Fiona Middleton]], [[Steve McDonald]], [[Maxine Heavey]], and the notorious [[Tanya Pooley]].
-Mike had sold his factory and was looking around for a new investment, but a dodgy Spanish land deal went sour and Mike lost his money. Returning to the rag trade, Mike operated a sweatshop in the café flat, until it was closed down by Health and Safety Officials for noise pollution. He then took up work as a salesman at [[Ingram's Textiles]] - and after the death of boss [[Peter Ingram]], took up with his wife [[Jackie Ingram|Jackie]]. After fretting over which woman to remain with, he dumped Alma in [[December 1990]]. A distraught Alma spent time with best friend [[Audrey Roberts]] to recover, then got some revenge by vandalising Jackie's bedroom.
+Alma's marriage was not perfect. In particular, she was well aware of Mike's arrogant and underhand treatment of people, and often found herself apologising for his behaviour. She sympathised with Ken, [[Jim McDonald]], and even [[Don Brennan]] (before he tried to kill her). Mike also had a habit of patronising his wife and making decisions, overriding her opinion. In [[March 1995]], Alma received a letter informing her that Jim Sedgewick had died three months before and she inherited £2,000 - Mike was put out when Alma splashed out on a convertible MG. The same year, she got a job catering for [[The Wheatsheaf]] pub in [[Ramsden]], Mike's chauvinistic dismissal of her talents compelled her to develop the sideline into ABC Catering (Alma Baldwin Catering). Alma was also only too aware of Mike's roving eye and acted jealously when Mike stepped in to help long-time friend [[Deirdre Rachid]], and when he employed [[Liz McDonald]].
-[[File:Alma_Ken_Mike.jpg|thumb|left|Alma found herself torn between Ken and Mike]]Mike still had feelings for Alma, and even felt a debt of responsibility. Without her knowledge he was contributing to the rent of Jim's cafe. These payments were to bring about the destruction Mike's relationship with Jackie. Two weeks after they were married in [[July 1991]], she learnt about the money and initiated divorce proceedings. Meanwhile, Alma had taken up with reliable [[Ken Barlow]] after meeting him at a Spanish night class. He planned to take her to a hotel for New Year's Eve. Alma though was still irresistably drawn to Mike. She spent [[Christmas]] Day with him, and when she confessed to Ken at the hotel, he dumped her and left. Mike pursued her again, and they were married in [[June 1992]].
+In [[January 1996]], misfortune visited the [[Baldwin family|Baldwins]] when Audrey's son, [[Stephen Reid]], arrived from [[Canada]] as a representative of [[Kbec]] clothing. He was looking for an English manufacturing base and asked Alma to provide catering for a business presentation. Alma was attracted to Stephen and later made a pass at him, which was embarrassingly rebuffed. Later, she was incensed when she told Mike and he told her he wasn't worried. Mike won the contract to make clothing and re-established a factory, selling his [[MVB Motors|garage]] to Don Brennan at an inflated price. Don went bankrupt and his girlfriend [[Josie Clarke]] left him. He nursed a grievance against Mike that intensified when he was done for drink-driving when about to pick Mike up in his taxi. Don's hatred was to threaten Alma's life. He attempted suicide and left a threatening message on the factory answer machine. When Stephen heard about what had happened, he cancelled the contract with Mike, who blamed Alma. Stephen later taunted Alma with her feelings, and accused her of secretly enjoying it when he ruined Mike, Alma dismissed him and was fully reconciled with her husband. The affair caused ructions in her friendships. Audrey wouldn't hear a word against her son and accused her of being angry because Stephen had rejected her.
-Alma settled down to her work at the café with Gail and an assortment of helpers like Audrey, [[Martin Platt]], [[Phyllis Pearce]], and later, [[Roy Cropper]]. She also rented the flat above the café to a host of [[Coronation Street, Weatherfield|Street]] luminaries including [[Angie Freeman]], [[Fiona Middleton]], [[Steve McDonald]], [[Maxine Heavey]], and the notorious [[Tanya Pooley]].
+Mike needed capital to continue with the factory, and when Alma offered to sell her share of the café, Gail felt that she was left high and dry. When Stephen accused her of trying to wreck Gail's business to get to him, she slapped him. Alma was set to sell to pizza chain Pizza Heaven, and dismissed an offer by Roy Cropper, believing him mentally incompetent but relented when Gail pleaded with her and Roy bought her share for £35,000. Alma and Gail were friends again.
-Alma's marriage was not perfect. In particular, she was well aware of Mike's arrogant and underhand treatment of people, and often found herself apologising to others for his behaviour. She had sympathised in the past with Ken, [[Jim McDonald]], and even [[Don Brennan]] (before he tried to kill her.) Secondly, Mike had a habit of patronising his wife and making decisions, overriding her opinion. In [[January 1995]], Jim Sedgewick died and Alma inherited £2,000 - Mike was put out when Alma splashed out on a convertible MG. And the same year when she managed to get a job catering for the Wheatsheaf pub, Mike's chauvinistic dismissal of her talents compelled her to develop the sideline into ABC Catering (Alma Baldwin Catering). Alma was also only too aware of Mike's roving eye, and has acted jealously when Mike has stepped in to help long-time friend [[Deirdre Rachid]], and when he employed Liz McDonald.
+Mike continued making and selling counterfeit Kbec gear, until Don burned the factory down and shopped him for arson and insurance fraud. Initially, even Alma doubted his innocence but lack of proof meant Mike was never charged. Don looked at other means of revenge and chose Alma, kidnapping her and taking her on a terror trip around Weatherfield, pouring out his complaints, before plunging into the [[Weatherfield Canal|canal]]. Alma was lucky to escape with her life and Don was sent to a mental institution. After the stress, Alma wanted to emigrate to Florida. Mike again upset her by dismissing her dreams and embarked on a business deal with [[Angie Freeman]] to found the [[Underworld]] underwear factory. She looked around for a job and got one at [[Firman's Freezers]]. Once more Mike bowled in with other ideas, whisking Alma away for a holiday to [[Cyprus]], telling Curly to forget her job. When they returned however, Alma was determined that Mike would not get the better of her. She secured a shelf-stacker's position at Firman's and was soon made Employee of the Month - her face even featured in Firman's promotions. However, Don was not yet finished with the Baldwins. Alma visited him in hospital and he apologized but later escaped and attacked Mike with a chair-leg at the Factory. Failing to kill him, he took Alma's car, ploughing into the viaduct and killed himself.
-In [[January 1996]], misfortune visited the Baldwins in the shape of Audrey Roberts' adopted son [[Stephen Reid]], who arrived from [[Canada]] as a representative of [[Kbec]] clothing. He was looking for an English manufacturing base, and asked Alma to provide catering for a business presentation. Alma was attracted to Stephen and later made a pass at him, which was embarrasingly rebuffed. Later, she was incensed when she admitted the incident to Mike and he told her he wasn't worried. Mike won the contract to make clothing and re-established a factory, selling his garage to Don Brennan at an inflated price. Don went bankrupt and his girlfriend [[Josie Clarke]] left him. He nursed a grievance against Mike that intensified when he was done for drink driving when about to pick Mike up in his taxi.
+At Firman's, Alma met assistant manager [[Hayley Patterson]] who was friendless and lacked self-confidence. Feeling sorry for her, Alma attempted to get Hayley to stand up for herself but Hayley latched onto Alma, who she considered her only friend. Deciding to set Hayley up with Curly, Alma held and impromptu dinner party and invited Hayley, Curly, Audrey and Roy Cropper (who was invited to simply make up the numbers). The dinner party was a disaster with Audrey getting drunk and revealing Alma's misjudging matchmaking... however Hayley found a connection with Roy, as they were both socially awkward and often lonely. Friendship blossomed, until Hayley told Roy she was a transsexual waiting for her gender reassignment operation. Roy rejected her, and Hayley confided her secret with Alma, who was caring and sympathetic and pushed Roy to start treating Hayley right. Hayley and Roy were eventually reunited shortly before she left to go abroad for her final operations.
-Don's hatred was to threaten Alma's life. He attempted to commit suicide, and left a threatening message on the factory answer machine. When Stephen heard about what had happened, he cancelled the contract with Mike, who blamed Alma. When Stephen later taunted Alma with her feelings, and accused her of secretly enjoying it when he ruined Mike, Alma finally dismissed Stephen and was fully reconciled with her husband. The affair caused ructions in her friendships. Audrey wouldn't hear a word against her son and accused her of being angry because Stephen had rejected her.
+On the domestic front, Alma had to cope with an unwelcome guest. Deirdre Rachid was charged with fraud and as usual Mike had stepped in to help her, offering her a place to stay. Alma was not best pleased, especially when she was placed on suicide watch after Mike caught Deirdre staring wistfully at some pills. Deirdre was eventually convicted and sent to jail, but shortly afterwards released after new evidence of [[Jon Lindsay]]'s criminal activities.
-Mike needed capital to continue with the factory, and when Alma offered to sell her share in the café, Gail felt that she was left high and dry. When Stephen accused her of trying to wreck Gail's business to get to him she slapped him. Alma was set to sell to pizza chain Pizza Heaven, and dismissed an offer by Roy Cropper, believing him mentally incompetent. But when Gail pleaded with her she relented and Roy bought her share for £35,000. Alma and Gail were friends again.
+Hayley returned to Weatherfield in [[June 1998]] and restarted her relationship with Roy, to Alma's concern, but happiness. She was amazed when Hayley passed a test and got a job in Mike's factory.
-Mike continued in the factory selling counterfiet Kbec gear, until Don burned the factory down and shopped Mike for arson and insurance fraud. Initially, even Alma doubted his innocence. Lack of proof meant that the police never charged Mike however, and Don looked at other means of revenge and chose Alma. He kidnapped her in his taxi, taking her on a terror trip around Weatherfield, pouring out his complaints, before plunging into the river Irwell. Alma was lucky to escape with her life and Don was sent to a mental institution. After the stress, Alma wanted to emigrate to Florida.
+Accidentally, she told Mike that Hayley was transsexual after a social security mix-up and Mike decided to sack her, to Alma's horror. She pleaded and eventually scolded Mike to give her her job back and eventually he relented, but never really accepted her. When Hayley's secret finally did come out to the factory, Roy launched an attack on Alma for telling Mike in the first place.
-Mike again upset her by dismissing her dreams and embarking on a business deal with Angie Freeman to found [[Underworld]] underwear factory in Coronation Street. She looked around for a job and [[Curly Watts]] accepted her at [[Firman's Freezers]]. Once more Mike bowled in with other ideas, whisking Alma away for a holiday to [[Cyprus]], telling Curly to forget her job.
+In [[February 1999]], Roy and Hayley fell out just before the Valentines Disco but Alma persuaded Roy not to give up on her and to go along. He did, and he proposed to Hayley there and then. Alma was asked to be Matron of Honour, and allowed Hayley to stay at their house the night before the wedding, in [[April 1999|April]], to Mike's displeasure.
-When they returned however, Alma was determined that Mike would not get the better of her. She secured a shelf-stacker's position at Firman's and was soon made Employee of the Month - her face even featured in Firman's promotions. Don was not yet finished with the baldwins. Alma visited him in hospital and he apologised to her but he later escaped and attacked Mike with a chair-leg at the Factory. Failing to kill him, he took Alma's car, ploughing into the viaduct and killed himself.
+In [[May 1999]], Alma discovered that Mike had been blackmailed following an affair with [[Julia Stone]] and they separated. Alma moved in with the recently widowed Audrey. Despite some attempt to reconcile, she realised that she no longer loved him as she had done and the marriage was over. Later that summer, she heard that Mike had been seeing another woman, and was visited by Hayley, who told her it was Mike's mouthy machinist, [[Linda Sykes]]. Alma then divorced Mike citing unreconcilable differences.
-At Firman's, shy assistant manager [[Hayley Patterson]] latched onto Alma, who introduced her to fellow lonely-heart Roy Cropper. Friendship blossomed, until Hayley told Roy she was a transsexual waiting for her gender reassignment operation. Roy rejected her, and Hayley confided her secret with Alma, who was caring and sympathetic. Hayley and Roy were eventually reunited shortly before she left to go abroad for her final operations.
+Following her divorce, Alma changed her surname back to Halliwell. Later, she was pursued by Councillor [[Bob Bradshaw]], but it didn't last, because he was eventually arrested for taking bribes.
-On the domestic front, Alma had to cope with an unwelcome guest. Deirdre Rachid was charged with fraud and as usual Mike had stepped in to help her, offering her a place to stay. Alma was not best pleased, especially when she was placed on suicide watch after Mike caught Deirdre staring wistfully at some pills. Deirdre was eventually convicted and sent to jail, but shortly afterwards released after new evidence of [[Jon Lindsay]]'s criminal activities.
+In [[October 2000]], Alma, along with Mike, Ken and others, was held hostage at gunpoint in the [[Freshco]]'s siege by the man who turned to be Linda Sykes's brother [[Dean Sykes|Dean]]. During this time, she became friendly with retiring security guard [[Frank O'Connor]]. They escaped unharmed and Alma and Frank became good friends.
-Hayley returned to Weatherfield in [[June 1998]] and restarted her relationship with Roy, to Alma's concern, but happiness. She was amazed when Hayley passed a test and got a job in Mike's factory.
+[[File:Alma death.JPG|thumb|Alma passes away in her home]]
-Accidentally, she told Mike that Hayley was transsexual after a social security mix-up and Mike decided to sack her, to Alma's horror. She pleaded and eventually scolded Mike to give her her job back and eventually he relented, but never really accepted her. When Hayley's secret finally did come out to the factory, Roy launched an attack on Alma for telling her in the first place.
+In [[2001]], Alma received devastating news: a misdiagnosis, combined with a missed smear test at the hospital, meant she had developed cervical cancer that had extended to such a degree, that even if she did receive treatment it wouldn't do any good. In short - Alma had terminal cancer of the cervix.
+Alma, not wanting to die in hospital, passed away peacefully at Audrey's house on [[17th June]] 2001 from the cancer with [[Mike Baldwin]], [[Ken Barlow]] and [[Audrey Roberts]] at her side. 13 years after Alma's death, cancer would claim the life of her friend Hayley in a similar fashion.
-In [[February 1999]], Roy and Hayley fell out just before the Valentines Disco but Alma persuaded Roy not to give up on her and to go along. He did, and he proposed to Hayley there and then. Alma was asked to be Matron of Honour, and allowed Hayley to stay at their house the night before the wedding, in [[April 1999|April]], to Mike's displeasure.
+==Personality==
+{{incomplete}}
+==Relationships==
-In [[May 1999]], Alma discovered that Mike had been blackmailed following an affair with [[Julia Stone]] and they separated. Alma moved in with the recently widowed Audrey. Despite some attempt to reconcile, she realised that she no longer loved him as she had done and the marriage was over. Later that summer, she heard that Mike had been seeing another woman, and was visited by Hayley, who told her it was Mike's mouthy machinist, [[Linda Sykes]]. Alma then divorced Mike citing unreconcilable differences. Or maybe she had just had enough of Mike's duplicitous nature... and Linda Sykes.
+{{incomplete}}
+==Hobbies and interests==
-Later, she was pursued by Councillor [[Bob Bradshaw]], but it didn't last, because he was eventally arrested for taking bribes.
+{{incomplete}}
+==Background information==
-In [[October 2000]], Alma, along with Mike, Ken and others, was held hostage at gunpoint in the [[Freshco]]'s seige by the man who turned to be Linda Sykes' brother. During this time, she became friendly with retiring security guard [[Frank O'Connor]]. They escaped unharmed and Alma and Frank became good friends.
+{{incomplete}}
+==First and last lines==
-[[File:Alma_death.JPG|thumb|Alma passes away in her home]]
+"I'm sorry to keep you love... I mean you don't have to be an octopus to work here, but it does help!" (First line, to [[Bert Tilsley]])
+---
-In [[2001]], Alma received devasting news: a misdiagnosis, combined with a missed smear test at the hospital, meant she had developed cervical cancer that had extended to such a degree, that even if she did receive treatment it wouldn't do any good. In short - Alma had terminal cancer of the cervix.
+"You choose." (Final line, to [[Mike Baldwin]], when he asked if she wanted music)
-Alma, not wanting to die in hospital, passed away peacefully in her home on [[17th June]] 2001.
-==Quotes==
+==Appendices==
+{{incomplete}}
-"I'm sorry to keep you love... I mean you don't have to be an octopus to work here, but it does help!" (First line, to [[Bert Tilsley]]).
 ==See also==
@@ Line 92: / Line 103: @@
 [[Category:Freshco staff]]
 [[Category:1945 births]]
+[[Category:Residents of 5 Grasmere Drive]]
+[[Category:Residents of 12a Rosamund Street]]
+[[Category:Articles needing completion]]
+[[Category:Residents of No.4 Montreal House]]