Handel Gartside was a Weatherfield resident in the 1930s and a close friend of Ena Sharples, Minnie Caldwell and Martha Longhurst. In 1937, he was on the dole after losing his job as a weaver. He took a job in Quebec and moved to Canada. In 1970, Handel returned to the UK to visit his old home town. He was delighted to see Ena and Minnie again, but was saddened to learn about the deaths of Martha Longhurst and Jack Walker. On his return, he bought a house in Whaley Bridge but was a regular guest at Minnie's house in the latter part of the year. Minnie was happy to have Handel around but Ena treated him with suspicion and neighbour Albert Tatlock didn't approve of him as he was a conscientious objector in the War.