Leonard Swindley first appeared in Coronation Street in December 1960, in the third episode transmitted. Played by Arthur Lowe, he ran Gamma Garments and preached at the Mission of Glad Tidings.
A self-righteous, pompous and selfish man, he was nevertheless adored by his assistant, Emily Nugent. In 1962 he stood for the local council representing the Progressive Property Owners Party, but only managed to scrape 405 votes.
Times were hard in 1963, and Mr Swindley was told to sack Miss Nugent from Gamma Garments, but he threatened to leave with her, and saved her job. Following this the fortunes of the business improved and Swindley was promoted to head office. He suffered a breakdown in 1964, and after he recovered, the devoted Emily proposed to him (it was leap year, after all). After initially hesitating, he accepted and presented Emily with an engagement ring. The wedding was planned, with Len Fairclough as best man, but Emily jilted Swindley at the altar because she knew that deep down he didn't love her.
The two remained friends, and Swindley taught Emily to drive, but they ended up in court after driving the wrong way down a one-way street - added to which, Leonard's license had expired. Soon after this, Swindley was transferred to another branch of Gamma Garments and he left the Street. The character appeared again in two spin-off shows, Pardon the Expression and Turn Out the Lights.
Arthur Lowe was a brilliant actor who went on to create the immortal role of Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army. He also appeared in Lindsay Anderson's trilogy of cult films, If.... O Lucky Man! (in which he played multiple roles) and Britannia Hospital. He died in 1982.
Additional information: The Coronation Street Story by Daran Little
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There was something I always liked about Leonard. He was a good man at heart. His battles with Ena Sharples were a good glimpse into her character which we wouldn't have been able to see if she was just stuck gossiping with Martha and Minnie and fighting with Elsie. They both seemed to love their faith, but went about it in very different ways. I especially liked Leonard's voice. Many of the Corrie names in the early days had such distinctive voices. And how many can say they had a spinoff show? Or that they shepherded a character who would be on the show for nearly 50 years?