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19th June 1978: Mike Baldwin provoked a strike at his factory for the most unusual of reasons when he sacked Hilda Ogden after she asked for a new sweeping brush. In the foulest of moods and suspecting Hilda of cutting the brushes off the old one he summarily dismissed her. Even though Hilda was not in the union, Ivy Tilsley pushed for the rest of the factory staff to come out on strike in support of her. The vote wasn’t unanimous as Hilda wasn’t the most popular of colleagues but a majority supported the action. Mike refused to back down and the girls walked out as the bitterest of disputes that he had ever faced as a factory owner began…

• For more information see Episode 1818 (19th June 1978).

Mavis Wilton

Mavis Wilton is Rita Tanner's close friend and former assistant at The Kabin and wife of the late Derek Wilton. Mavis initially joined the Kabin in 1973 after spending two years at the Mark Brittain Warehouse as a clerk. Following a temporary move with her parents to Grange-over-Sands, she was re-hired at the Kabin and balanced her work there with nursing her bed-ridden auntie Edie Platt. Mavis finally escaped her overbearing relative in 1977 when she moved into The Kabin flat, where she led a quiet life with her pet budgie Harriet. Mavis was to remain at the Kabin for over two decades, chiefly thanks to her strong friendship with the newsagent's manageress Rita Littlewood. Confident and glamorous, Rita took the shy spinster under her wing and a bond was formed. The 24 years they worked behind the counter together weren't without their lows; a born fusspot, Mavis often tested Rita's patience with her indecisiveness while Rita frequently took Mavis's loyalty for granted. Mavis longed to break out of her shell and in 1997 she retired to Cartmel to run a bed and breakfast.

Previous featured characters: Billy Walker; David Barlow; Maggie Cooke; Steph Barnes; Jackie Ingram; Phil Jennings.

...that the first episode of the programme ever transmitted that did not feature any of the original cast members from 1960 was Episode 1428 (23rd September 1974)?
...that Stanley Wood, who wrote Episode 1237 (22nd November 1972), was the father of comedian Victoria Wood?
...that in Episode 1183 (17th May 1972), the character of Rita Bates gave her maiden name as "Foster" and not the later-established "Littlewood"?
...that although the character of Armistead Caldwell had died in 1935, his voice was heard in Episode 1256 (29th January 1973)?
...that the first ever repeat of an episode of Coronation Street was on Friday 10th February 1961 when strike action prevented the transmission of that night's edition and Episode 1 was shown in its place?

...that the entire plotline of Episode 1524 (25th August 1975) takes place in the Rovers Return Inn over one night and the following day?