Mr Hopwood was Emily Nugent's driving instructor in 1965. Unflappable but amicable, Mr Hopwood was the perfect tutor for the nervous Emily and enabled her to pass her test at the first attempt.
During the first of their 15 lessons in March of that year, another motorist reversed out of a side street without indicating, almost causing a collision. Although Emily applied the brakes in time, she was so shaken up by this that she then went the wrong way round a roundabout. After the lesson, Hopwood encouraged Emily not to dwell on her mistakes, complimenting her on her quick thinking. Emily was left smitten with the instructor.
The lessons continued, with Hopwood postponing one to the evening a few days later due to a business lunch. That same day, he surprised Emily by suggesting that they go for coffee on Union Street at the conclusion of the lesson - an invitation Emily accepted. Two months later, as their time together was coming to an end, Emily bought Mr Hopwood a thank-you gift of braces with motor cars woven into the design.
Amy Hopwood's youngest, Mr Hopwood was recognised on his first visit to Gamma Garments by Ena Sharples, who remarked to Emily that the last time she saw him he was walking on his bootblacking. Hopwood was not familiar with Ena, though when he saw the fearsome pensioner size him up, it prompted him to tell his pupil that he would wait for her in the car.