Tom Russell was an old colleague of Ivan Cheveski's. Tom was employed at the ironworks Ivan had quit to emigrate to Canada in 1961. A year later, when the Cheveskis came back to spend Christmas in Weatherfield, Ivan visited his former workplace to plan a night out with Tom and George Phillips.
Later that day, Tom bumped into Ivan's wife Linda and her mother Elsie at the Rovers Return. After a brief catch-up, Tom remarked on the fact that Ivan had been offered his old job back by the ironworks bosses, not realising that Ivan hadn't told his homesick wife out of fear that she would pressure him to accept. His slip-up caused an argument between the Cheveskis when Ivan arrived home that evening, though they did ultimately return to Canada as planned.