The young boy was approached by a sorrowful Albert Tatlock while fishing at the canal near Albert's allotment in June 1976. The boy complained that there was nothing to do and offered Albert a sandwich but the dejected pensioner, upset at being too old to look after his allotment, walked off. A few hours later, Ken Barlow showed up looking for Albert. Still fishing, the boy pointed him in the right direction, adding that Albert had said he was going where he wouldn't be a bother to anybody.