Albert Tatlock is a fictional character on the British ITV television soap opera Coronation Street. Albert was played by actor Jack Howarth from 1960 to 1984. The character became something of a cultural icon, so much that grumpy old men were sometimes nicknamed "Albert Tatlock".
A veteran of the First World War, Albert settled back into civilian life by marrying and starting a family. However, his wife Bessie died in 1959 and he retired from his job at the Town Hall the following year, before taking up a new occupation as the street's resident grumpy old man, forever complaining about the struggles of old age and living on the low income from his pension.
Although Albert was never close to his daughter Beattie, he maintained close ties with his brother Alfred's family, particularly his niece Valerie, who married Albert's neighbor Ken Barlow in 1962. With Val's death in 1971, and Beattie's continued absence, Ken eventually moved into No. 1 and took care of Albert in his twilight years until his death in May 1984.
Storylines
Albert was delighted when his niece Valerie (Anne Reid), daughter of his brother Alfred, came to stay with him, and began seeing neighbor Ken Barlow (William Roache); Albert was even more delighted when the pair got married in 1962. He was pleased to have family ties in the street, and he was a frequent visitor at No. 9.
Not idle in his retirement, Albert got a job as a school crossing warden and acquired an allotment from the Council to grow his own vegetables. In 1965, Albert asked Clara Midgeley (Betty Hardy) to look after his house whilst he made an extended visit to his daughter Beattie Pearson's (Gabrielle Daye), and upon his return he soon realized that Clara was interested in him. Clara proposed to Albert, but he turned her down, saying he was too set in his ways.
Money was always a great concern of Albert's, in 1967 he briefly bought items in bulk with Ena Sharples (Violet Carson) to cut costs and later took a live-in assistant job at the Fusiliers' Museum, working for his old friend Harry Dunscombe. Effie Spicer (Anne Dyson) looked after No. 1 while Albert was living elsewhere. Effie left the house abruptly upon Albert's return as he had increased her rent because he hated the decorations she had placed as a surprise for him.
In 1969, Albert found himself warming up to the idea of remarrying, so he would have someone to spend his old age with. He proposed to Alice Pickins (Doris Hare), who had been pursuing him for nearly a year, however, as the guests gathered for the wedding, the vicar was delayed, and Alice thought it was a bad sign and decided not to marry Albert after all. Further misfortune came for Albert in 1971 when Ken and Valerie decided to emigrate. Just as he was coming to terms with their departure, Valerie died in an accident in the Barlows' maisonette, and a distraught Ken decided to stay in the country. Even though Ken was not a blood relative, Albert had come to accept him as part of his family and eventually let him lodge at No. 1, although he had made his disapproval that Ken had decided to send his and Val's twins Peter and Susan (Robert and Katie Heaneu) to live in Scotland with Val's parents, Alfred and Edith Tatlock (Clare Kelly) clear.
In the meantime, Albert's financial woes continued. He took a job as co-caretaker at the local Community Centre and in 1973 suggested to friend Minnie Caldwell (Margot Bryant) that they marry for financial reasons (Minnie was also struggling with money). After months of being engaged, Minnie pushed Albert to set a date for the wedding. However, when her friend Ena pointed out that as a couple, they would earn less than they would separately, Minnie called off the engagement. Both were relieved, as they were starting to get on each other's nerves.
Albert celebrated his 80th birthday in August 1975. To his surprise, the neighbors threw a surprise party for him. They had contacted his old regiment who sent along a bugler. In 1976, Albert had a dispute when he won money at the bingo with Bertha Lumley (Madoline Thomas), as she did not share her winnings with him despite their agreement. Albert was threatened by Bertha's husband Nat (Eric Longworth), so he decided to leave them alone.
Albert was very proud of his war record, and took a dim view of Minnie's friend Handel Gartside (Harry Markham) when he found out he was a conscientious objector, and even at one point refused to let Handel in his house. In 1980, Albert sold his Military Medal to go to London for Remembrance Day, to pay tribute to his war friend Monty Shawcross. When Ken saw how upset Albert was that he had sold his medal, he bought it back for him.