 |
| Annie Walker (Doris Speed) and Betty Turpin ( Betty Driver) |
I am of a generation that grew up with Granada tv's "traditional" portrayal of the Northern Working Class Woman in twice weekly soap Coronation Street.
Life
in Weatherfield (aka Salford) at that time, remained drab,
industrialised and parochial. The austerity of the 1950s was only a
decade away, some houses still had an outside lav, and women who were
old before their time still had to make do and mend.
Coronation
Street of old was a cracker of a soap, and it was all the better for
having the likes of Betty Driver ,a former 1940s big band singer, in a
supporting role as the street's warm hearted, ham armed, motherly
bosomed bar lady Betty Turpin.
For
me she embodied women of a certain age, who survived hardship and
wartime with an offer of a smile, a cup of tea and a piece of cake, and
like John Wayne, Betty always looked as though she was playing her warm
and big hearted self on screen, a thing the British nation loved her
for.
Betty Driver 1920-2011
I have never watched Corrie but ev en so I knew of Betty Driver. She was, as you rightly say, an embodiment of a certain type of working class woman who seems to have disappeared now. Not sure whether that is a good thing or a bad - but a lot ofd people will mourn her passing - not least the cast of Corrie who were very tearful I noticed.
ReplyDeleteI'll raise a glass to Betty, a good, strong woman.
ReplyDelete...brrr, I well remember the outside loo's of my childhood! (1950's)
Ena Sharples and Minnie Caldwell were more my era. But there certainly was 'something' about Betty Driver. RIP.
ReplyDeleteRIP
ReplyDeleteThese were the good old days of Coronation Street, when we had the Ogdens to laugh at, Albert Tatlock and Elsie Tanner - brilliant characters. I was only thinking about Betty the other day, and I don't watch Corrie anymore.
ReplyDeleteSweet dreams, Betty.
I have heard of the show, but only seen an episode or two when the local PBS managed to snag one.
ReplyDeleteI am sure she will be missed.
So many people like her embodied a certain type of person we are losing too many of, now days.
I think you summed up both Corrie and Betty Driver quite nicely. I used to be a big fan of the soap in the past for its gritty humour.
ReplyDeleteBut they did give us hope. Let's not forget that Betty Turpin's son went on to better things and is now chairman of Everton FC.
It's sad that Betty Driver never had children. Through their controlling behaviour, her mother and her husband both cast shadows over her life. May she rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteI used to watch it with mum, I can't watch any soaps now, they only focus on the under belly of society. My mum hails from Derby and I know hundreds of Betty's, who have that decent respectable working class northern warmth to them - rip she was a legend
ReplyDeleteGoodbye to Betty, goodbye to an era.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I have never seen the show and yet I, for some odd reason, know of Betty Driver. God rest her soul.
ReplyDeleteSad news. Another little chipping away of the spirit and character that epitomised so much of the essence of what was Northern Britain in previous eras... x
ReplyDeleteIn Canada, we are just seeing the January 2011 episodes of corrie, so it will be a few months before we really have to say goodbye to Betty. She was legendary.
ReplyDeleteOh no, not Betty! We're about a year behind in Canada with the episodes. It will be sad seeing Betty and her hotpot now. I miss the oldies.
ReplyDeleteI know I've seen her in some things, can't quite remember though. Another loss to the film world.
ReplyDeleteA lovely memorial to a gifted lady!
ReplyDelete(I remember our outside "loo" also, every visit was interesting!)
thank all you Northern Lass fans!
ReplyDeleteand welcome to Pat Hatt (great name)
We're quite a bit behind in NZ. I hardly ever watch Corrie these days but I was a big fan in the glory days of the Seventies and Eighties. (I loved Mavis and Rita's bickering in the Kabin).
ReplyDeleteRIP Betty. Who'll be making the hotpot now?
She was a great lass, John. She led a fascinating life, not always easy, but had many facets to her performing life including being a fabulous singer!
ReplyDeleteAnother good 'un gone...
end of an era....I wonder how the writers will write her out of the series? We now get an hours worth of Coronation Street 5 days per week, in the hopes we will catch up with you guys........
ReplyDeleteGill in Canada
Ah Betty! No more Hot-pots. It's nice to see a tribute to her.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I just learned this from you!!! How sad, she was just an ICON. I knew she was 91 but she was one of those ladies you just thought would be around forever. I thought it was bad when we lost Blanche, but it won't be the same without Betty! What a woman.
ReplyDelete