The Gas Man was sent by the gas board to investigate a leak at 1 Coronation Street in March 1973. The leak had caused Albert Tatlock to be hospitalised and as a precaution the police evacuated the street residents to the Community Centre. After carrying out an examination at No.1, the man told an enquiring Jerry Booth that the gas stove had been taken out by someone who didn't know what they were doing. His conclusion was that the gas pipes hadn't been sealed properly by whoever did the job. Unbeknown to the gas man, Jerry carried out the work on behalf of Fairclough and Langton.