The 1980s
In February 1980 Jack Sugden returned to Beckindale after finishing his novel in Italy, when Jack returned, he became serious about farming and wanted to run the farm, but Joe had also considered himself to be the manager of the farm and joined NY estates as assistant manager of Home Farm. This made Annie and Sam quite sad at Joe's departure from the farm. Soon after Jack's return, his old flame, Pat Ruth Merrick returned to Beckindale with her son Jackie and daughter Sandie after she left her controlling husband Tom for good.
Pat and Jack renewed their relationship and she and the Merricks moved into the farmhouse. In 1982, Pat and Jack married; the Sugden family was growing as finances for the family were improving. Joe left for France for a two-year period between 1984–1986 visiting every now and again. As for the Skilbeck branch of the family, Dolly gave birth to Samuel Skilbeck in December 1982. The following year, Sandie gave birth to a daughter but she gave it up for adoption in 1984 with the support from her gran, Annie and step-dad, Jack.
In 1986, Pat Ruth Sugden gave birth to Jack's second son by her; they named him Robert, however 4 months after, Pat died in a car crash.
The 1980s saw several tragedies for the Sugden family, with the deaths of Sam Pearson in 1984, Pat in 1986 and Jackie in 1989.
In 1988, Jackie married Kathy Bates who even after his death remained close to the Sugdens. The Hughes family moved into the farmhouse in 1989 after Kate Hughes and her children Rachel and Mark moved into Beckindale in 1988. The Hughes Family arrived which consisted of Kate and her children, Rachel and Mark, after some time Kate and Joe married.
In November 1989, Emmerdale Farm became Emmerdale. The Tate family arrived at Home Farm at the same time.
Read more about this topic: Sugden Family