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Vincent "Vince" Plummer was a Newton & Ridley relief manager who took over the Rovers Return Inn for a fortnight in July 1961 when Jack and Annie Walker went on holiday to Torquay.

He joined the Walkers for a day before they left to learn the ways of establishment, not approving of Jack taking an early taste from the pumps. Annie took an instant dislike to him, saying he was too keen, and her women's intuition led her to believe that he was a troublemaker if ever she saw one. She voiced the opinion that they would be lucky if he hadn't antagonised all their customers by the time they got back. Hearing he hailed from London, Ena Sharples voiced the opinion that he was "all bay window and no breakfast" and both she and Martha Longhurst smelled trouble when they overheard him ordering live-in barmaid Concepta Riley to move the spirits from their usual places. Despite that unpromising start, he came on to her, saying she could call him "Vince" and he would be able to do her favours when they had time alone together. Concepta walked away from his attempt to put his arm around her, making for her fiance Harry Hewitt who had noticed the exchange and made his displeasure known, refusing to shake Vince's proferred hand.

With the Walkers gone, Vince started to bully Concepta about the state of the pub, telling her to clean the glasses as she collected them and to make the customers use the beer mats collected. She more than stood her ground but customer Alf Roberts noticed she was upset and forced a confession about Vince's behaviour from her. Len Fairclough was told about the state of affairs and stepped in when Vince told her off for talking too much with the customers, putting him firmly in his place. His next target was Minnie Caldwell who was nursing an empty glass in the snug without buying a new drink but Martha firmly stood up for her friend.

A bone of contention for Vince was that the Walkers had agreed to store items collected for a forthcoming jumble sale in aid of the Over 60's Club and he refused to allow Billy Walker, Alf and Len to bring in more donations. One person he couldn't overcome was Ena who asked for three stouts and then changed her order when Minnie asked for a port instead, even though Vince had already opened the bottles.

The next person to be offended by Vince's behaviour was Michael Courtenay who as a fellow Irishman also objected to his attitude towards Concepta and refused to let him take away a glass she had served, and which Vince claimed was dirty. Michael further made it very clear that he was very unhappy with Vince's comment about her "Paddy tricks".

Vince's final trick was to write a letter to the brewery, making complaints about the way that the Walkers had run the establishment. Ena overheard him talking about the report and took delight in telling Vince that the Walkers were charming people and people came from "the other side of the canal to bask in the warmth of Mrs Walker's smile".

Upon their return, Annie's found her predictions had been proven true when they found that the stock had been moved, the clock replaced and the report sent, making her rue taking a holiday in the first place. The brewery took no action as a result of the letter.

List of appearances[]

1961[]

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