"She just sat up, broke wind and died"

[vernon]

I heard the quote on Radio Four just now when it dealt with the death of Tony Warren. I looked up the phrase and discovered this clip containing the immortal words spoken by Ena Sharples.

Have a look at the clip of Coronation Street and marvel at the transformation of the program over the past 55 years



There's references to things that disappeared during my childhood e.g. 'laying out' - the practise of preparing corpses for funerals which used to be done by members of the community, one for Catholics and one for non Catholics.

It brought back a flood of memories.

BTW, Sitting up, farting then popping my clogs seems like a good exit from life.

 

[biggs682]

BTW, Sitting up, farting then popping my clogs seems like a good exit from life.

Sounds like a good way to go

 

[Fnaar]

Threatening legal action is a bit 'modern'!

 

[Markymark]

BTW, Sitting up, farting then popping my clogs seems like a good exit from life.

Taking as many with you as you can??

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

BTW, Sitting up, farting then popping my clogs seems like a good exit from life.

But first having poked a few pies down?

 

[vernon]

Threatening legal action is a bit 'modern'!

Nope. I recall hearing the threat of 'You'll be hearing from my solicitor' being screamed by verbal combatants in my childhood. I doubt that anyone knew what a solicitor was other than being a check/checkmate move in verbal chess.

 

[Ian H]

My only memories of Coronation St are in black and white. It was my mother's favourite TV soap. Useless facts: Violet Carson (Ena Sharples) had, in real life, a cut-glass accent and was a good piano-player.

 

[ColinJ]

It isn't just a case of the transformation of the programme - that just mirrors the transformation of society.

It is amazing to think that only 55 years ago, few families in the UK owned TVs, and the ones that did had small, unreliable sets with horribly curved screens (funny how curved screens are coming back!), in black and white, only 2 channels, and blurry 405 line resolution. Oh, and no means of recording programmes so watch live, or miss out!

My English grandmother looked a lot like Ena Sharples, complete with hairnet. Even grandmothers have changed! Here is a friend of mine, a modern granny in action ...

 

[steveindenmark]

Hilda Ogden AKA Jean Alexander was one of my clients and had a lovely speaking voice. She is a lovely lady and has some great stories.

 

[TVC]

Hilda Ogden AKA Jean Alexander was one of my clients and had a lovely speaking voice. She is a lovely lady and has some great stories.

One of the most moving moments of television, Hilda alone holding Stan's glasses after he died.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Am I the only one who has never seen one episode of Corrie?

 

[Fnaar]

Am I the only one who has never seen one episode of Corrie?

I haven't watched one since the early 1980s

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I haven't watched one since the early 1980s

The first 20 years didn't hook you then?

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

No you're not

 

[classic33]

I heard the quote on Radio Four just now when it dealt with the death of Tony Warren. I looked up the phrase and discovered this clip containing the immortal words spoken by Ena Sharples.

Have a look at the clip of Coronation Street and marvel at the transformation of the program over the past 55 years



There's references to things that disappeared during my childhood e.g. 'laying out' - the practise of preparing corpses for funerals which used to be done by members of the community, one for Catholics and one for non Catholics.

It brought back a flood of memories.

BTW, Sitting up, farting then popping my clogs seems like a good exit from life.

Been to a few traditional wakes in recent years, so they've yet to disappear. The body in the coffin, often open, at what would have been their house, awaiting as many members of the family and close friends as possible to pay their last respects.