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Alice Burgess (née Hewitt), was the widowed sister of Harry Hewitt, and aunt to Lucille and Christopher.

Alice and Harry grew up in an unhappy home, as their father Thomas was out of work during the Depression and their mother Mary slowly lost her mind, finally being put in an asylum after attacking Alice and Harry with a carving knife. Alice was left with permanent scars on her arms. Alice married Sam Burgess on 3rd September 1939, at the outbreak of World War II - their wedding reception was in full swing in the Rovers' select when the air-raid sirens started sounding, although the party atmosphere continued when the guests were moved into the cellar as a precaution. With Sam expecting an immediate call-up, their pre-planned honeymoon was cut short and the newlyweds spent one night in Blackpool. Alice returned to the family home of 7 Coronation Street the next morning as Sam left for war.

Alice was devastated when, in June 1940, she received the news that Sam had been killed in Dunkirk and blamed her father for convincing him to enlist. When Thomas then used Sam's death to shame Harry into enlisting, Alice cut all ties with her father, and moved to Stockport, where Sam's sister lived. Harry visited on occasion when he was on leave.

At the end of the war, Alice went to work for wealthy mill owner John Howarth, firstly in the capacity of mill canteen supervisor and upon the mill's closure, accepted his request of moving into his Cheshire home as a live-in housekeeper, whereupon he'd promised Alice that she wouldn't want for anything and would be taken care of in his will.

Following Mr Howarth's death in February 1961, Alice found herself out of work and instead of taking retirement, turned up at the end of the following month at her former family home No.7 - where her brother Harry was still living. She disapproved of Harry's lifestyle and was disliked by her niece Lucille, so her stay was a short one, lasting only two months. In October of the same year, Alice sent a telegram to congratulate Harry and his new bride Concepta, as she was unable to attend the wedding.

List of appearances[]

1961

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