Petra Taylor

Petra Taylor (née Jones) is a fictional character portrayed by Alexandra Pigg in the soap Brookside from 1982 until 1983.

Background

Prior to Petra and Gavin's arrival on Brookside Close, the neighbours were already finding conflict with Roger Huntingdon looking down his nose at the working class Grant family and inevitable conflict between the Grant and Collins families.

The arrival of the Taylors on a meat wagon however made it worse. The neighbours had already formed an impression of them before their arrival when gas cookers turn up of their lawn sometime before they move in. These gas cookers are in fact stolen and being sold by Gavin. Phil Redmond intended the Taylors to represent the black market economy.^[1]

Petra came from a working-class Liverpool family, her mother died when she was young and she was brought up by her father, Davy Jones.

Character

From her arrival until Gavin's death, Petra is trying for a baby. Petra and Gavin argue somewhat during their stay. In February 1983 however Petra finds Gavin has died in his sleep, and is consoled by her and Gavin's brother-in-law, George Jackson.^[2]

After Gavin's death

Following Gavin's death, Petra discovers she's pregnant. Petra also strikes up a friendship with Barry Grant who lays her a patio using flags he has stolen from Paul Collins. Petra and Barry later go on holiday to the Isle of Man together and during their holiday Petra miscarries. After the loss of her husband and unborn child Petra becomes sullen, this irritated Barry Grant and he leaves for London with money his mother Sheila has been collecting for charity. When Petra returns home in August 1983, she packs a suitcase and leaves.

After her death

Petra was found to have committed suicide in a hotel room in Llandudno, Wales, in January 1984. In her will she left everything to her sister and her brother-in-law, George Jackson. The Jacksons then moved into No 10.

Trivia

Gavin and Petra drove a BMW 320 with their names written over the windscreen.

References