A bare-knuckle fight on a patch of waste ground. A hard, bruising, savage battle between Welsh Dave and Jim Larkin - who is watched and hero-worshipped by his grandson, the 13-year-old Joe Henshaw. But Joe's childhood is soon to come to a shattering end.

The war is over, and in the General Election the Labour Party has swept to a colossal victory. Joe Henshaw , home on leave, joins the VJ night celebrations.

After demob, a restless Joe Henshaw returns to Collyhurst. The Kilbride family is in trouble - Martin is still in Strangeways, Martha is badly in debt and Irene has disappeared. Joe sets out to find her

A dispute on the site, and the employers bring in scab labour. The attempt to make the strike official involves Joe once more with Sarah

The strike going badly; a sudden illness; and a career taking off. Joe is learning fast, but the lessons are uncomfortable ones.