Alfred Sharples was the husband of Ena Schofield, the father of Vera, Madge and Ian and the grandfather of Colin Lomax. Alfred met his future wife in 1917 when he was sent home from the war to nurse an injured leg. Although he and Ena had chemistry, Ena was upset to learn that Alfred was already married and she immediately left him alone. When the war was over, Alfred and Ena met again and Alfred put Ena in the picture of his marriage: it was a name-only affair. He had married the daughter of a man his father had owed money to. He also explained that his wife had recently died, and Ena gave things a second go.