After delivering a baby in a toilet Jenny is approached by a ragged old woman asking after the child's welfare. The nuns identify her as Mrs Jenkins,who lives in terrible poverty but refuses help. Eventually Jenny and Sister Philomena get through to her and help her improve her life. Jenny is perplexed that Mrs Jenkins mistakes her for somebody called Rosie and uncovers a tragic set of events in the old lady's life before closure is achieved. Rehearsing for the local nativity play its director Chummy seeks the help of intelligent school leaver Lynette Duncan,unaware ...
Jenny visits pregnant Molly Brignall who is submissive to her abusive husband Ritchie even though he has driven a wedge between her and her mother Marjorie. Molly gives birth in hospital but discharges herself early at her husband's behest. The consequences are disastrous though at least it lets Marjorie into her grandchildren's lives. Sister Evangelina and Trixie have to scale a precarious rope ladder on a Swedish ship,whose captain's daughter Kirsten is about to give birth. The nun dislocates her shoulder so that Trixie - successfully - carries out the birth. She is...
Cynthia delivers Irene Kelly's baby son successfully but the child dies next day. There is a post mortem, in the run up to which mothers are mistrustful of Cynthia,who begins to blame herself and doubt her confidence,walking out on a birth. However she is relieved when the post mortem exonerates her. Jenny meets former boyfriend Jimmy but he is engaged to a girl whom he does not love because he has got her pregnant. Chummy and Peter meanwhile depart for Sierra Leone.
Hesitant nursing assistant Jane Sutton arrives at the convent as Jenny is seconded to hospital work,meeting Jimmy,who,to her surprise,is one of the patients. Arrogant surgeon Aubrey Tracy misdiagnoses Jimmy and an operation is required,where Jenny acquits herself well. She also sees that Tracy is himself ill and he resigns. Meanwhile aggressive twins Meg and Mave Carter - both married to the hen-pecked Sid - arrive at the clinic as Mave is pregnant. However they eschew modern medicine for old herbal remedies and,following a bleak tarot card reading,the over-bearing ...
Cheery vicar Applebee-Thornton comes to stay at the convent whilst his house is being prepared. He is taken by the shy nursing assistant Jane and asks her out but she is nervous and stands him up. Later she admits to him her unhappy past and starts to come out of her shell. Jenny and Sister Evangelina deliver Ruby and Douglas Roberts' son but the child has spina bifida and needs special attention. Blaming herself Ruby sinks into a depression and Jenny,to Sister Evangelina's disapproval,takes on childcare duties. However the offer of a place in a home for physically ...
Worn-out mother of eight Nora Harding is distraught to find herself pregnant again and Jenny is shocked that Nora and her husband and children live in a cramped,rat-infested apartment. Nora visits an illegal abortionist and almost dies before Sister Julienne intervenes and the family is rehoused. Sister Monica Joan feigns illness to prevent herself from going on holiday as she fears she may never return as the other nuns see her as useless. However when the convent's summer fete requires a judge for the baby show and first choice, handsome television star Clifford ...
Tuberculosis is starting to take its toll in the area and Dr Turner,backed by Sister Bernadette,makes an impassioned plea for a mobile screening unit to come to Poplar. Its performance is a success but Sister Bernadette is among those found to have the illness and is taken to hospital. Jenny's patient,former pub landlord Mr Masterson, is dying and,many years ago, lost all his family to tuberculosis except youngest daughter Julia,who has not visited him for five years and who is unmarried and pregnant. At Jenny's request Julia moves in to nurse her father and the pair ...
Jenny treats pregnant Monique Hyde,a West Indian immigrant,living in over-crowded conditions as landlords are prejudiced to black applicants and also facing racial hostility from neighbour Rita. However when Monique's waters break Rita rises to the occasion. Cynthia is angered by patient John Lacey,a diabetic who bullies his weak wife Annie into giving him food dangerous to his illness and learns that Annie is 'repaying ' him for giving her and her son Bob a home years earlier. When Bob returns from America with his his over-bearing betrothed Annie sees the chance to ...
Sister Bernadette leaves hospital,having renounced her vows and ready to start life with Dr Turner. Jimmy returns to work in Poplar,happy with fatherhood,and introduces Jenny to his friend Alec,with whom she goes on a date. Another visitor is Fred's pregnant daughter Dolly,with her little son,but when she needs a brief hospital stay,Fred is literally left holding the baby. Fortunately Chummy is a huge help but she has her own doubts about what sort of mother she will be and news that the convent will be bulldozed with other buildings to make way for development ...