Effie Spicer was a widow who lived at No.4 Maisonette in Coronation Street from 1968 to 1969. She later lodged at No.1 while Albert Tatlock was away.
Biography
Effie Spicer was born in Weatherfield and had a courtship with Jack Walker in their youth. Effie Spicer arrived in Coronation Street on 26th June 1968 to move into No.4, a newly built ground floor flat. Her first taste of Street life came immediately upon walking onto the Street, when she witnessed a row between Hilda Ogden and Elsie Tanner. Effie appeared put off, wondering if she would have to contend with such incidents regularly.
Soon after moving in, the well-dressed, white-haired widow clashed with neighbour Ena Sharples and Rovers landlady Annie Walker, as she had known Annie's husband Jack when they were young and they enjoyed meeting up again and reminiscing. Annie was jealous of their past relationship and asked Effie to stay away from Jack, although Effie ignored her and joined Jack's bowling club.
Later that year, Effie's sister-in-law died, leaving debts which fell to Effie to pay. Effie spent her savings and was left nearly penniless, but was too proud to accept a loan from friends and rowed with Ena when she found out about money she owed. Ena ended up helping Effie sort out her pension.
In January 1969, Albert Tatlock asked Effie to move into his house while he took a live-in position at the Fusiliers' Museum. Effie agreed and lived there until March, when Albert returned. Effie decided to surprise him by decorating the house but he hated the changes, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere which caused Effie to decide to go and live with her niece.
Background information
When a block of Maisonettes were written into storylines as part of the modernisation of the programme in 1968, Effie was a new character introduced to live in one of the ground floor OAP flats, next door to Ena Sharples. She never featured prominently in storylines, and was last seen in March 1969.
First and last lines
"Does this happen often?" (First line, to Ken Barlow after witnessing Hilda Ogden and Elsie Tanner rowing in the Street)