Lena Dawkins

Lena Dawkins was the proprietor of the local village store between 1975 and 1976. Lena was a cheery lady who was a bit of a gossip, but she was also a no nonsense lady, and once time she even put Amos Brearly in his place. In 1975, Norah Norris left the shop and Mrs Dawkins took over. Lena left the shop herself sometime after February 1976, but was still living in the village by September 1978.
==Biography==
===Backstory===
Lena was born in the mid 1930s in Beckindale. She later married a Mr Dawkins. Lena was known for being feisty, and was a bit of a gossip.
===1973-1976===
Lena Dawkins was a regular customer at The Woolpack. In January 1974 she complained about the price increase in the shop and wanted to report Henry for charging more than the retail price. She never did report him though. She even downed a pint in 1974 and chatted up traveller Dryden Hogben. In 1975, Mrs Dawkins helped out at the shop. One time, Norah Norris walked out and left Mrs Dawkins the key.  Henry Wilks asked Lena to take over the shop permanently as Norah was not returning. Woolpack landlord Amos Brearly was reported by Lena for keeping a rubbish bin in The Woolpack bar. Amos even tried to pull a fast one with Mrs Dawkins and she took no nonsense from him. He respected her after that. When Wilf Padgett installed a post office in the shop, Mrs Dawkins kept trying to make small talk with him and disrupted his work. The new post office was eventually installed.
In February 1976, Lena was running the shop. She was last seen when she commented on Fred Farrar being a possible poacher. Mrs Swannick swiftly took over when Mrs Dawkins was unavailable, but her absence was not fully pinned down. However, in early March 1976, Lena Dawkins was said to have attended the jumble sale by Joe Sugden. 
In September 1978, Donald Hinton told Annie and Amos that Mrs Dawkins was giving him a lift to the airport for his flight to Greece to see his jailbird son Clive Hinton. This was Lena Dawkins last known mention.
After 1978, what became of Mrs Dawkins is unknown. By 1988, a Mrs Robson ran the shop, indicating that Mrs Dawkins had left the village or was no longer working at the shop, but still residing in Beckindale.
==Quotes==
"Morning Alison. A Lovely day" (First line)
----
"Who'd have thought it. Fred Farrar? A poacher." (Final line)
==See also==
*Full list of appearances
Category:Emmerdale Farm characters
Category:1973 debuts
Category:1976 departures
Category:Shopkeepers