Her friendship with next-door neighbour Albert Tatlock (Jack Howarth) sometimes causes friction with Albert’s daughter Beattie Pearson (Gabrielle Daye). Ida was the first regular character to be killed off. Ken (William Roache) is the elder son of Frank Barlow (Frank Pemberton) and Ida Barlow (Noel Dyson). His clash with his postman father as the first university student in a traditional working-class family forms the opening situation of the series. Although he becomes a political activist with a complex love-life, some critics found the character boring. But Ken went on to become the longest-running character in any soap opera. David Barlow was played by Alan Rothwell for a period of eight years between 1960 and 1968. David was born on 4 July 1942 in Weatherfield, Lancashire. The Barlow family at 3 Coronation Street consisted of David, his academic older brother Ken (William Roache), his mother Ida (Noel Dyson) and his absent father Frank (Frank Pemberton), who was away fighting in World War II until 1945. In 1961, David was an apprentice engineer but he wanted to pursue a career in football. He signed for Weatherfield County FC and in his first match he scored the only goal. He was one of the team's best players and in June a second division London team wanted to transfer David and offered £1,000 to sign him. David left Weatherfield to play for the team and didn't return until 1963, except for a brief trip up for Ida's funeral which he watched from afar. By 1963, he was quite well off financially and didn't fit in with the locals. He next visited over Christmas 1964 and stayed with Ken and his wife, Valerie (Anne Reid). He didn't tell them that he was suspended from playing for accepting a bribe, but by February was cleared. He was off the field again in April after tearing a ligament, and stayed with the Barlows so he could date Irma Ogden (Sandra Gough), who he started seeing during his previous visit. By now, Frank had moved away, and Ken was David's only family in the area. David announced he was retiring from football but took a job as player coach for Weatherfield Athletics. He was also contracted to write for a football gossip column in Weatherfield Advertiser. Fun-loving Irma was flattered by David's interest in her and was receptive to his advances. He wanted to move the relationship to the next level and asked her to marry him when the street residents went a trip to the Blue John Mines.