Percy Sugden arrived in the Street in 1983 as the new caretaker at the Community Centre. Old soldier Percy had been a cook in the Army and his proudest boast was: "When you've made gravy under shell fire, you can do anything!"
Percy was well-meaning, but bossy and interfering. He had little family, but was close to his neice, Elaine Prior, who married Bill Webster in 1985.
Upon reaching retirement age in 1988, Percy was forced to leave his flat at the Community Centre and move out of the Street. Miserable at being away from the neighbourhood, he slumped into lethargy until Emily Bishop took pity on him and moved him as her lodger at No 3.
Percy had unwanted female attention thanks to Phyllis Pearce and Maud Grimes. Percy had a budgie called Randy who he tried to mate with Mavis Riley's budgie Harriet. In 1997, Percy's quiet life was shattered when the Battersbys moved next door. Percy couldn't stand his overbearing new neighbours, so he decided to move into a retirement complex, Mayfield Court