Colin Appleby was Christine Hardman's husband for a short time in 1962. They had known each other some years before but were reunited in June 1962 when they met at the bowling alley, only days after Christine had had a nervous breakdown. Colin was just what Christine needed to bring her out of depression and within a week decided to settle in Leeds together and marry. Their new life ended abruptly when on 12th October, Colin was killed in a car crash, and widow Christine returned to her native Weatherfield.