11/04/2025

Elizabeth’s delighted to see Joy back serving in the Shop. Joy admits she needed time away because of everything going on with Rochelle. Elizabeth sympathises, then suggests a distraction. Later, Joy thanks Elizabeth for inviting her to the planning meeting at the Village Hall for the VE Day celebrations. Elizabeth’s happy because Joy came up with most of the ideas, including a beacon on Lakey Hill. At The Bull, Freddie talks positively to David and Ben about his Academy Trust initiative. He’s hoping to get them to contract Casey Meats and local suppliers to provide school dinners, although he’s still waiting for their response. David then launches into a tirade about how tough things are for farmers, especially the proposed Inheritance Tax changes. A lively debate ensues, with Brian taking David’s side and Freddie tacitly agreeing. Ben and Jolene take the opposite point of view, arguing against farmers being treated differently on taxation. David’s upset Ben doesn’t agree with him, with Freddie suggesting Ben’s arguing against his own self-interest, but Jolene’s counter-argument is equally robust. Later, Brian suggests Ben might change his tune one day, before Ben calls David and they agree to disagree – there are no easy answers. Back at Lower Loxley awkward Freddie tells Elizabeth he thinks Vince might have a thing for Rochelle. Elizabeth laughs this off, before confiding a little of what Joy’s told her about Rochelle’s troubled upbringing. Vince wants to give Rochelle a chance and Freddie concedes she might just be desperate to prove herself. In which case he agrees that Rochelle deserves a chance.