May Hardman (Nee Mason) was a character in Coronation Street in 1960. She was the first character to die in the show. May was played by Joan Heath.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
May Mason was born in about 1911 in Weatherfield. She was the daughter of Frank Mason and his wife. May had a brother Edwin Mason and a sister Madge Mason. May married George Hardman in 1930 when she was 19. They had a daughter Christine in 1939. The family later moved to leafy suburbia.
George died in 1955 and left May with many debts. May even had to move from leafy suburbia back to her old home at No 13 Coronation Street. May became reclusive and depressed.
1960[]
May was sectioned, but later released in December 1960 and returned home. On the 30th December 1960, she passed away in her home a few days later, aged 49, from an un-diagnosed brain tumour, much to the distress of her daughter Christine who thought her mother was putting on the headaches and complaining. May had knocked on the wall to summon help from the corner shop next door but had collapsed and died. She was buried in early January 1961.
Legacy[]
In June 1962, a year and a half after May died, Christine was so depressed that she sat on the roof of the raincoat factory and considered jumping off but was talked out of it by Ken Barlow whose mother had also passed away recently after being hit by a bus. A policeman was shocked when he asked after her mother and was told she was dead.
In July 1964, Ep 371 - 8 Jul 1964, almost 4 years after May died, Ena Sharples mentioned May Hardman to Irma Ogden when she said how May knocked on the wall as she was dying and no one heard her.
Memorable info[]
Born: About 1911, Weatherfield
Died: December 1960, Number 13 Coronation Street
Full Name: May Hardman (Nee Mason)
Parents: Frank Mason and Mrs. Mason
Siblings: Edwin Mason, Madge Mason
Spouse: George Hardman (1930-1955)
Children: Christine Hardman (1939)