Neighbours

A church-going, peace-loving vegetarian, Harold had two children with his first wife Mavis. He survives them all; daughter Kerry accidentally shot by duck hunters and son David killed with his wife Lil and daughter Serena in the Lassiters plane crash. He also lost is beloved second wife Madge to pancreatic cancer.

Harold first arrived in Erinsborough at the invitation of Madge’s daughter Charlene. He had been in love with Madge since high school but soon found himself battling for her affection with his old high school rival, loud mouthed Lou Carpenter. At one point Madge literally had to pour cold water over them when they started brawling in the street.

After several false starts Harold and Madge finally married. However, the threat of Lou never quite went away, the mere suggestion that he come and stay with them later triggering a heart attack. It was while on a trip to celebrate his recovery that Harold fell into the sea and was missing, presumed dead for five years.

In actual fact he had been picked up by a trawler heading for Tasmania and, suffering amnesia, he had built a new life working for the Salvation Army and calling himself Ted. He transferred back to Erinsborough without quite knowing why and was spotted by old friend Helen Daniels. Surrounded by friends and a familiar environment, Harold’s memory started to return. It finally came flooding back when Lou served jelly at a dinner party. Lou had always called Harold “Jelly Belly”.

“Ted” hasn’t been Harold’s only alter ego. For a while Harold was worried that he might have been armed robber Alfie, after seeing a photofit of a Tasmanian criminal that looked just like him. He also enjoyed a brief stint as cult icon “Afro Harold” in an advertising campaign dreamed up by Lori and Connor. He’s also suffered traumatic events that have drastically changed his personality, including a stroke that left him irritable and short-tempered and the death of his son David, which led him to try and kill Paul Robinson.

Family has always been crucial to Harold. Devoted to both of his children, he was also a foster father Tad Reeves and Paul McClain. He has fallen for a few women since Madge, including Rosie Hoyland, Ruby Dwyer, Lil’s mother Svetlanka and the glamorous Loris Timmins but he has never remarried. Indeed his most consistent companion has been old foe Lou. The two men bicker constantly but they remain partners in business as well as sharing one pair of kidneys between them.

Harold worked hard to be a support to his last remaining relative, his beloved grand-daughter Sky. Initially horrified to discover that she was pregnant, he realised quickly not to make the same mistakes that he made with her mother Kerry. He had hoped that with a new generation arriving, he would finally be able to rebuild his shattered family. Sadly there was yet more loss when Kerry Junior was diagnosed with leukaemia and her uncle Scott offered to donate the necessary bone marrow. Suffering post-operative complications, Stingray passed away.

Harold helped his shattered grand-daughter rebuild her life. It was a slow process, not helped by fake psychic Terrence who conned Sky into believing he was getting messages from Stingray. When Sky discovered the scam she lashed out. When Terrence was found dead, Sky was charged with his murder. Harold supported her ceaselessly until she was cleared and eventually persuaded her to head up to Queensland to be near Kerry’s father Dylan. As heartbroken as he was to lose the last member of his family, selfless Harold knew that it was for the best.

Unsurprisingly, Harold came to wonder just what was keeping him in Erinsborough. Despite his warm affection for all of his friends and neighbours, Harold began to realise that there was a wide world he had yet to explore. When Marco made him an offer for his house, Harold seriously began considering life as a Grey Nomad. Although he decided not to sell Number 24, he did decide to buy a caravan and go travelling.

But what this space… he’ll be back!