Phyllis' husband Harry returns to Ormston and she agrees to give him another chance. The pub is still in Harry's name, and he bets it in a poker game with Arthur. Deborah's cousin comes to town to give birth to a child that she wants to give up.

Helen becomes a trainee nurse just as the hospital welcomes its most demanding patient, Elizabeth Grimshaw. Tensions run high when a famous radio show arrives in Ormston, and Phyllis is upset as she heard that Harry has sold the pub to the brewery.

When Dennis Tyldesley arrives, Hubert Gough thinks that his much younger wife will run off with the mysterious man. However, Dennis reveals that he is in charge of building a new road that will run through the middle of the village.

Len and Linda's first foster child arrives and doesn't meet their expectations. Rita, a new barmaid, arrives with ideas to expand the pub, which the locals dislike. She leaves when Tom diagnoses her with a rare heart condition.

Tom discovers that Arthur plans to move to New Zealand and send old friend Donald Newman as his replacement. Eddie has a suspicious lump examined, and the villagers receive their eviction notices in advance of the new road building.

Mr. Ffotherington comes to Ormston, and Brewer and Mr. Boynton are suspicious of him. Wilf robs Jean's wedding dress fund to buy alcohol to drown his sorrows after Ivy's departure.

Ormston is united in its determination to win the annual inter-village Pub Olympics against Thursvale so they can use the hefty cash prize to buy Phyllis' pub back from the brewery.

Jean and Eddie finally get married. Wilf's ex-wife Violet turns up and he insists that he will not attend the wedding if she is present. Whilst Donald looks out for young orphan Niamh, Tom decides to visit his father.

Ormston welcomes a new face and bids farewell to an old friend. Donald and Deborah set up a mobile blood bank before Tom returns from New Zealand, and find a match for teenage haemophiliac Abel Marl.

Helen returns to join the villagers in paying their last respects to Tom. Logan's patience is tested by hypochondriac Albie Thwaites while Henry Williamson suggests that Deborah and Donald sell the cottage hospital to the NHS.

Deborah continues to run the hospital alongside Newman and becomes involved with Janette Locke, who appears to be abusing her son. Jean and Eddie become temporary landlords at the pub whilst Phyllis recuperates from an injury.

The Cosgroves prepare for their latest foster child. Logan shelters Albert Tooley, a young army deserter, and Mary Pilling fears that he has run away to be with her, unaware of her recent marriage to Cyril.

Ormston prepares for the traditional Apple Day Festival, while Len's cousin Nathan visits.

Both Emma Rowe and Laura contract a fever after they are admitted to hospital, but it could be more than just a simply a coincidence.

Nancy and Wilf swap jobs with predictable results. Nancy woos Nick, but Deborah spends the night during a storm. Charlie Polson pursues his assistant, Hettie, but lands in the hospital, trying to impress her.

Jean invites Ruby to the Antiques Fair where Ruby gets shot. As Deborah and Logan grow closer, Henry offers Logan a job as the Rattenbury General. Nancy has a fling with Jack, a builder working in the hospital.

When the local home for disadvantaged people is forced to close, Deborah takes in Eileen Fisher, one of the residents, but doesn't expect Eileen's admirer, Jimmy, to follow suit.

Phyllis finds herself at the centre of an love triangle. Jean and Eddie get exciting news as they celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Logan leaves Ormston for Rattenbury and Deborah gives pursuit.