Sid Needham was the husband of Ethel Needham, who bought Blanche Hunt's corsetry business. In 1976, Sid, Ethel, and their two children had just moved into 26 Fairbank Road when Sid learned that he may soon be made redundant, and so Ethel purchased Blanche's business as a means of extra income. In their last meeting, Ethel told Blanche that Sid had heard of a job going at Reed's.