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Lionel Petty was an ex-sergeant major who owned the corner shop in Coronation Street for seven months between 1965 and 1966. Sandra, his teenage daughter from a former marriage, helped him at the shop until his interference drove her away.

Biography[]

Lionel Petty earned 4/- a week in the mines at age eighteen before a twenty-five year career in the army beckoned, with Lionel making it up to sergeant major in the Royal Artillery regiment. He and Mary were engaged at Aldershot, married in Woolwich and honeymooned on Gibraltar. In 1965, now a widower, Lionel arrived in Coronation Street, Weatherfield to inspect the corner shop, which Florrie Lindley was selling prior to emigrating to Canada. His teenage daughter Sandra had been to the street the year before and fallen for resident Dennis Tanner, so she suggested that Lionel buy the shop as a way for her to be close to Dennis. Lionel was impressed with the shop and agreed to buy.

Once in charge, Lionel quickly made his presence felt in the street as he began making changes to the way the shop was run, using his army experience to operate it efficiently and opening a sub post office. His approach to shopkeeping was a complete contrast to Florrie, who had been a popular proprietor. Lionel wasn't as personable and some customers felt intimidated by him; even his assistant Irma Ogden stayed off work so that she wouldn't have to be near him. When he was short with Ena Sharples, the resident busybody convinced many of her fellow street residents to boycott the shop. Lionel did not think he had done anything wrong but started making an effort to be nicer after Emily Nugent encouraged him to show an interest in his customers.

While Lionel lived in the corner shop accommodation, Sandra lived in the corner shop flat and worked behind the counter, although she wasn't happy and eventually moved to another part of Weatherfield when Lionel interfered with her taking a job at Gamma Garments. Lionel continued alone at the shop for a short while and took on Sandra's ex-boyfriend Dennis but by late 1965, he was losing money and cut back on credit at the shop. In January 1966, after less than a year in the shop, he decided to sell up and move to Rhondda, Wales, to run a tobacconist's shop for his old army comrade, Randolph - who owned five shops - with the hope of eventually being offered a partnership.

Lionel's friends in the street included Rovers Return Inn landlady Annie Walker, who invited Lionel to escort her to a Licensed Victuallers Association dance. Lionel wore his army medals and ended up charming Nellie Harvey, landlady of The Laughing Donkey.

Personality[]

Duckworths 1983
"If you've owt to say, spit it out before it flamin' well chokes yer"
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Background information[]

Duckworths 1983
"If you've owt to say, spit it out before it flamin' well chokes yer"
This article or section is unfinished.
Please edit this article to fill in the missing parts and remove this message when done.

First and last lines[]

"Morning." (First line, to Irma Ogden)

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"Look after yourselves." (Final line)

Appendices[]

List of addresses[]

Address Duration
15 Coronation Street June 1965 to 26th January 1966
Rhondda, Wales 26th January 1966 onwards

Employment history[]

Role Institution Duration
Owner Corner Shop 2nd June 1965 to 26th January 1966

See also[]

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