Resilient Women

Heartbroken Nurse Rose Gibb sets sail for South Africa during the Boer War after being rejected by the man she loved for the sake of her pretty half-sister. When things don't work out for Rose, entitled Blair Crawford is charged with escorting her home to the Clydeside town of Sandyford where their relationship is eagerly encouraged. However, Rose is intrigued by her mother's lodger, Magnus MacBride, who is in the process of refloating a tired old inherited paddle steamer.

All alone, following her mother's death, seventeen-year-old Eden Murray returns to her deceased father's fishing village in search of her roots and a future. Eden has worked in the fishing industry since the age of twelve and is soon employed by local businesswoman Euphemia Ross. Much to Euphemia's annoyance, Eden and her son Lewis Ross strike up a friendship. But Euphemia has grander plans for her son and is hostile towards Eden in preventing them ever having a future together.

Morag Weir's young life is full of responsibilities: caring for the ailing Sander Weir, the man who has raised her as his daughter; whilst managing his household and shipping business. When Sander Weir dies, his brother Lawrence is outraged to learn that Morag will inherit Sander's large home as well as a controlling interest in his shipping firm. As the business flounders, Morag must fight and find the courage to defy Lawrence and resist his efforts to overturn his brother's will and also wrestle control from the unscrupulous men who wish to take the business from her.

Paisley, Scotland, 1941. The residents of Glen Street Tenement find their lives increasingly entwined as war reshapes their world. Julia and Frank McCosh juggle work, Home Guard duties and evening band rehearsals, while their daughter Chloe nurses an unreturned crush on neighbour Dennis Megson. Dennis, training as an engineer and serving with the fire brigade, lives with his mother Nan, a night-shift nurse. Ellen Borland works at the Anchor Thread Mill while caring for her injured husband, Donnie.

Orphaned Elspeth Bremner longs to become a teacher, but her foster mother, Flora McDonald, decides that Elspeth must begin work when she turns fourteen. Wishing to improve her future prospects, she attends night school to learn shorthand, typing and book-keeping. Elspeth begins to date Kenneth Monteith, who is studying to become a doctor, and when Kenneth returns to Glasgow, Mattie also travels there to begin her teacher training, following Elspeth's dreams and now her man.