Sir Julius Berlin was a high-powered official within the Mark Brittain corporation. In June 1971, he inspected the new warehouse in Coronation Street. Three years later, he was present during a meeting between warehouse director Lionel Portious and Ken Barlow, who was representing the residents of Coronation Street by explaining to the warehouse bosses the noise and disruption caused by the lorries using the Street's entrance. Portious responded with half-hearted claims to want to minimise the disruption, and get the alterations to the Victoria Street loading bay completed as quickly as possible, but Ken was vociferous in making his points, insisting that something be done about the problem immediately. When Portious mentioned a Midlands branch which was also having alterations done, Ken s