Toyah's Street History - Part One
  
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Toyah and her family, Les (step-father), Janice (mother)  and Leanne (half-sister)  moved into 5 Coronation Street in the summer of 97. She was soon in trouble with her neighbours especially Curly who found it hard to cope with the volume of her ghetto-blaster and Rita was also on the receiving end of some cheek and minor pilfering. Toyah and Leanne were also involved in some under-age drinking at No. 5.

Toyah ran away to London in 1998 to try and find her real father, ex-jailbird Ronnie Clegg. However Ronnie had moved home leaving Toyah at the mercy of his ex-prison cell partner Neil Flynn who masqueraded as her father. Eventually realising this Toyah attempted to escape but was bound and gagged and then taken to some woods. Luckily Toyah managed to escape unharmed when Neil was distracted by a couple walking their dog and was eventually rescued by Janice and Les.

The start of Toyah's reform involved securing a job as a waitress at the Cafe working under Gail Tilsley. Her first boyfriend, Phillip Dobson ("Dobber"), was a bad influence and encouraged Toyah to steal from the Cafe. She eventually saw through him and decided to forget about men and concentrate on her studies. With the help of Ken Barlow, a retired school teacher, she improved her grades and won a Just 17 magazine writing competiton.

During the spring of 99 the Battersbys took a caravan holiday in Wales. During the holiday Toyah was smitten on site worker Owen who for some inexplicable reason was more interested in Toyah's mum Janice. This led to huge ructions between Toyah and her mum but they eventually made-up and Owen was soon forgotten.

Toyah was always attracted to Spider (Geoffrey) Nugent, Emily Bishop's nephew. It started as an unrequited schoolgirl crush which lead to Toyah helping in Spider's environmental campaigns such as sabotage at Betterbuy's Supermarket and the occupation of the Red Rec. Spider was more interested in Natalie's niece Lorraine. True love won through however under the 1999 Solar eclipse and Toyah and Spider are now living together in a bedsit.


Toyah has now split from Spider who has left to rediscover himself in India and maybe a new romance with long term admirer Tyrone Dobbs is on the cards perhaps starting with some driving lessons.

She achieved 3 grade 'E's A levels at college and now is set for Weatherfield Metropolitan University (formerly Inkerman Street Tech.) and a course in Journalism. Her summer job at  Radio Weatherfield should have provided some valuable practical experience.
With Leanne having left to travel the world, Toyah has now taken over as the 32nd and the most lovely barmaid of the Rover's Return in order to pay her way through college. She has also left the bedsit and moved into Leanne's old room at the Rovers.

What with her jobs in the cafe and the Rovers and University studies Toyah will be extremely busy and we should see a lot more of her in the future of the Street (goodie!)
Toyah has continued to juggle two jobs and a student life. This has left little time for romance with only a brief fling with Andy MacDonald providing any excitement. She has however helped in other's love lives including bringing Hayley and Roy back together and, as always, sorting out Janice and Les.

She still has the militant tendencies instilled by Spider with successful campaigns fought to save the Street's cobbles, fighting for her former neighbour, Phil Simmonds against the evil landlord Dougie Ferguson and striking against the Rover's new management skimpy uniform policy.

 

The year 2001 has taken a dark turn for Toyah with the Rover's becoming an increasing unpleasant place to live and work. The new Rover's boss Dougie Ferguson  is a complete contrast to the kind and understanding Roy and uses bullying tactics to force Toyah to work long hours.

Worst was to come when the nasty piece of work, Peter Barlow, was taken on as cellar man. Late night card games were organised with Toyah expected to wait hand and foot on the participants. Peter stole and watered down the whisky which eventually led to Toyah being wrongly accused by Dougie of calling Trading Standards and she was fired.

On the night of being fired Toyah decided to forget her troubles and go to the student union with Sam, the Masked Python. On the way back home to the Rover's she was brutally attacked by Phil Simmonds, the person she had gone out of her way to help find accommodation. Toyah's life is left shattered and she now needs all the support that Janice and Les and her friends Geena, Roy and Hayley can provide.

The cobbles may have been saved and the Rover's is not to become the Boozy Newt but has Coronation Street lost something far more important?

Toyah is now bringing her life back together. She has resumed work at the Cafe and the Rovers and also embarked on a romance with mechanic and part-time stripper Sam Kingston. Toyah is also to restart University.

Phil Simmonds pleaded guilty after Toyah visited him in prison and was given a 10 year sentence.

Spider is due to reappear in the Street in October and this may provide Sam some rivalry for Toyah's affections. 

 


Toyah's Street History - Part One
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