An abandoned child proves a mystery for Tom, while a haunted parishioner, and a trainload of stuffed animals cause troubles for Arthur and Brewer.

Fred Mills is reluctant to start medical treatment and instead concentrates on fulfilling his wishlist of activities. A mysterious rash spreads through the village.

Some villagers are found swigging brandy instead of water when the local supply is cut-off. Meanwhile, Eddie refuses to allow her daughter Joanne to go to hospital.

Wedding bells are ringing in Ormston, but the groom may not be all he claims. Meanwhile, Wilf and Arthur may have met their match in a parrot.

An elderly recluse agrees to go to hospital only if Arthur and the Rev. Brewer attend one last party; Jean and Eddie must pose as the Gilders.

Deborah loses her baby and, in addition to keeping an eye on her kids over the festive season, has to endure Arthur's childish pranks on Tom. Len and Wilf dress in drag to catch burglars disguised as Santa and an elf whilst Brewer raises eyebrows by announcing that he will be refereeing a female wrestling bout at the village Christmas extravaganza.

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.

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.

Donald Newman, Gilder's replacement, arrives and saves the life of a beautiful young woman. Deborah and Phyllis discover that the man behind the evictions and road scheme is London civil servant Mr. Ffotherington.

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 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.