The following is based on a profile
in the book "The Emmerdale Family Album" (by Michael Heatly
and Published by Boxtree Paperback - 30 June, 1995 ):-
"The Newcomers
The year of 1993 saw not one but two new family
arrivals - and in both cases they were to supply much-needed
community services in the shape of the post office and Doctor's
Sugery
Yet beneath their placid public faces, the Windsors
and the McAIlistcrs were as turbulent as any family with growing
children
In December 1993, leading
the 'brat pack' of new Emmerda/e stars were Noah Huntley and
Camilla Power; who arrived as brother and sister Luke and Jessica
McAllister. The pair had already appeared together in the children's
television serial Moonacre. . . .
THE McALLISTERS
It had been many years since the village had boasted ils own doctor, so the
arrival of Bernard McAllister and his family' from their former hospital
position in suburban Surrey was a cause of much pleasure. As luck would
have it, the Doctor would play a role in the events surrounding the 1993 air
crash and its aftermath, but the benefits of a surgery in the village -
instead of having to travel to Hotton for medical attention - would clearly
be felt for some while to come.
In all, Old Hall became home to four people:
the doctor, his wife- Angharad. plus teenage children l.uke
and Jessica. The position (of teacher at local Hotten Comprehensive
School initially gave Angharad McAIlister tle opportunity of
keeping a motherly eye on her offspring - but the aflemmth
of the plane crash saw her lending a hand in nonacademic ways
as the school was commandeered for humanitarian purposes.
Once order was finally restored, the only thing
rending the peaceful country air was the noise from Luke's
motobike,, which he employed to take him to his final years
at school. He fell in with some dubious company, and his naivety
seemed set to land him in some scrapes...
Jcssica, though two years younger than her brother,
is rather more strcctwise and can quite often prove more mature
- though not in matters of the heart. Her parents had hoped
a move to the Dales would put distance between her and finace,
Danny, a long-haired youth some years older than her, who they
regarded as undesirable. Like so many teenagers, however, Jcssica
proved less than willing to conform to her parents' wishes,
and their disapproval probably prolonged the relationship beyond
its natural end.
As may be expected given their positions in the
comnmnity, Bernard and Angharad McAIlister were soon well known
and respected by all. They both played a part in the` Turners'
wedding preparations, and Bernard was a leading light in the
administration of the Disaster Fund. Meanwhile. Angbarad proved
herself snrprisingly uninhibited beneath a conventional exterior,
most notably when persuaded on stage at Lynn Whiteley:s benefit
night to cavort with the semi-clad 'Nobbies'.
It was all a long way from their comfortable
Surrey life, but for the McAIlistcrs life in the Dales at first
seemed just the prescription . . . " |
as of 8th July 2003