The Gathering Seed
Season 11983
The saga of Manchester lad Joe Henshaw, a story that takes in family life, the trials and tribulations of the Labour movement and World War Two
The saga of Manchester lad Joe Henshaw, a story that takes in family life, the trials and tribulations of the Labour movement and World War Two
6 Episodes
A bare-knuckle fight on a patch of waste ground. A hard, bruising, savage battle between Welsh Dave and Jim Larkin - who is watched and hero-worshipped by his grandson, the 13-year-old Joe Henshaw. But Joe's childhood is soon to come to a shattering end.
September 7, 1983The war is over, and in the General Election the Labour Party has swept to a colossal victory. Joe Henshaw , home on leave, joins the VJ night celebrations.
September 14, 1983After demob, a restless Joe Henshaw returns to Collyhurst. The Kilbride family is in trouble - Martin is still in Strangeways, Martha is badly in debt and Irene has disappeared. Joe sets out to find her
September 21, 1983A dispute on the site, and the employers bring in scab labour. The attempt to make the strike official involves Joe once more with Sarah
September 28, 1983The strike going badly; a sudden illness; and a career taking off. Joe is learning fast, but the lessons are uncomfortable ones.
October 5, 1983Joe is torn between Sarah's ambitions, Pawsey's idealism and Martin's schemes for making money. But it is to be through his grandfather that he makes the significant discovery.
October 12, 1983