Continued.......

When Owen was released from hospital and was now confined to to a wheelchair a fact which caused Sammy to continue her drinking habits and become an alcoholic.

Chrissi turned to Dr O’Rourke for help but ended up having a brief affair with him. Sammy decided to get away from her troubles, by taking up an offer of employment as a chambermaid in Blackpool, while Chrissi having been made redundant at the estate agents was employed by Brookside Comprehensive as school secretary.

Frank was also on the lookout for a new job after a disagreement with management where he worked. He thought he had found the ideal job when he started work as assistant transport manager at nearby Lichen’s but was sacked when his new bosses unimpressed with his references. Frank eventually found work as a lorry driver for another transport company.

Geoff had his first romantic encounter with class mate Paula Heneghen but their relationship was brought to an abrupt end when her father found them kissing on his doorstep. Mr Heneghen confronted Frank about Geoff’s behaviour with Paula, they argued and Geoff was banned from going out with Paula ever again.

Meanwhile Sammy having returned from Blackpool embarked in a relationship with an older man Tim Derby, who had two children. Frank strongly disapproved of Sammy who was still only 17 seeing this man and did his best to split them up. Sammy took no notice of her father and moved in with Tim for a while, but fed up with Frank’s interference Tim soon dumped Sammy telling her to go back to her parents.

Geoff was devastated when he was turned down by Tramere Rovers and walked out during his school exams feeling there was no point in carrying on. His luck soon changed though when he was offered a YTS placement with Torquay United. Owen who by this time had recovered from his injuries gets back together with Sammy.

Frank and Chrissi’s marriage hit a bad patch when after an argument Chrissi left taking Katie with her, although she returned a few weeks later to a tearful reunion .

Sammy and Owen seemed to be getting on really well and Frank was delighted when they announced they were to get married even though Sammy’s pregnancy influenced their decision.

Chrissi though was far from pleased and after another argument decided to take up an offer of a place at a teacher training college. Katie was heartbroken when she discovered that Chrissi was leaving and tried to get her to stay, But on Sammy’s wedding day while everyone else was celebrating, Chrissi packed her bags and left Frank and Katie for good. With Chrissi gone Frank and Katie continued to live at No 5 along with newly wed’s Sammy and Owen.

Within the first few months of Sammy’s marriage there were problems when one of Katie’s school friends Leanne developed a crush on Owen. Despite Owen’s continued rejection of her advances Leanne told Sammy they had been together. Believing her story she argued with Owen who then left to live with his mother. They were soon reconciled when neighbour Barbara Harrison made Leanne tell Sammy the truth and that nothing had happened between her and Owen.

After the birth of her baby Louise, Sammy found she could not cope and Louise was taken into care after being dumped outside the hospital. Owen managed to convince the authorities that they could look after Louise, and he and Sammy decided to move out of No 5 to a place of their own.

While Sammy and Owen were sorting out their problems Frank started a relationship with Lyn the sister of a workmate who had recently been killed in a road accident. Despite both Katie’s and Lyn’s daughter Alisons disapproval, Frank and Lyn continued to see each other and eventually decided to get married. Their marriage was very short lived however, on the way back from the reception, Frank who was driving the Roll’s swerved to avoid another car and crashed. Frank died in the accident although Lyn escaped with minor injuries.

Lyn later discovered she was pregnant so decided to move into No 5 with Katie. When Sammy and Owen also decided to move in their was an argument over Franks possessions. Sammy tried to take Franks guitar from Lyn and during the struggle Lyn fell down the stairs. As a result of the fall Lyn lost the baby, ashamed at what she had done Sammy and Owen moved back to the flat. Lyn decided to make a fresh start and sell No 5 but allowed Katie to stay until the house was sold.

Katie while still depressed after the death of her father had a brief involvement with Cult leader Simon before moving out to stay with Jacqui Dixon.

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