Gertie Robson was the Community Centre's resident caretaker for a four month period in 1974. The post became vacant in March when Ena Sharples left Weatherfield for an extended stay with her friend Henry Foster in Lytham St Annes. In her interview, widow woman Gertie made a positive impression, winning over three members of the five-person panel. By the end, it came down to Gertie and, of all people, Stan and Hilda Ogden, who were the favourites of Mr Rogers and Vera Hopkins. Knowing the Ogdens would be terrible caretakers, Alf Roberts, Emily Bishop and Ernest Bishop campaigned for Gertie and talked their colleagues round by bringing up Gertie's need for accommodation as her home was due to be demolished.