Mabel Byford was the sister of Walter Byford. He was resident at the Weatherfield Vale retirement home while she was in Greenside House on the other side of Weatherfield. Their age, infirmity and distance apart meant that they were totally unable to meet. This depressed Walter who stopped eating and Martin Platt, the newly-appointed assistant manager, determined to do something about it. He contacted Greenside House who said they had another resident who had family who lived round the corner from Weatherfield Vale and they would be happy to swap her with Walter. Before the old man could be told, he suffered a heart attack and died in his chair.