Mr Grimley was a rent officer employed by Weatherfield County Borough Council. Minnie Caldwell had fallen behind by two weeks in her rental payments on 5 Coronation Street to Alfred Wormold and fretted about evicted. Albert Tatlock hadn't helped matters by passing on to her that Wormold had told him he had an appointment with Grimley and she consequently began to think the meeting was about her and possibly raising her rent.