Nicholas Udall

Doe is a happy and precocious little girl, loved by her parents, Emily and Jim. Life is hard for working-class families in 1950s Manchester. Seeking a way out, Jim organises a raid on a Jewellers, only to be caught and sent to prison. It is an event with devastating consequences, for when Jim returns, he discovers that Emily has found solace in the arms of another. In the recriminations that follow, Doe finds herself abandoned; her life turned upside down. Just twelve years old, is it possible for Doe to survive? Can she escape the clutches of the Children's Home, an institution she has good reason to fear? Will her indomitable spirit enable her to survive against the odds?

When shy Robert Wilson arrived at Armitage Street School, pretty Kay Thompson was quick to take him under her wing. It was 1948 and life was hard for those growing up in Manchester. Yet the devoted friends fought hard to overcome the obstacles to their progress and entering university, they seemed destined for new horizons. Meeting the sincere and sensitive Larry, Kay and Robert are introduced to his family's world of wealth and privilege. After graduating, all are eager to help shape a more caring society. Kay becomes a child care officer, whilst her friends enter the world of journalism. But as their journey continues, triumphs and tragedies mean that ambitions must be reassessed. How far will each of them stay true to the principles they shared in their youth? And through it all, will the bonds of their friendship, remain as strong as ever?