I am reading 'All Our Own Work' by Andrew Bibby. A book that covers the Co-operative movement and societies up North. He is writing about the establishment of a worker owned mill - Nutclough Mill, which made Fustian cloth, the 'denim' of the 19th century. It wasn't exactly a worker's mill, the money was raised by subscription, the capital raised split three ways. Interest, decent by the way nearer 10%, to the investors, a percentage, or bonus to the workers and the rest for capital or re-investment. We still have similar schemes in Waitrose, John Lewis and of course the good old Co-op supermarkets.
Bibby writes about the flurry of co-operative movements that started up at the time, the Owenites and its leader Robert Owen had started a vision of an Utopian Socialist society, fairer to the worker and a way of pulling people out of poverty. People invested in these schemes, I suppose they were enthusiastic for the burgeoning industrial age, but the workers were still underpaid, poverty was the lot of many people. Here in Yorkshire as the workers left their looms in the home and worked at the mills, such as Salt Mill, conditions were still bad. An interesting read, though many would find it dull but I shall persevere.
The other book which I am listening to at the moment, is 'English Pastoral by James Rebank', and no don't be taken by the innocous word 'pastoral' it is not cosy life in Olde England. He regrets the way farming has gone in a different way from the last world war, the use of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides.. He farms two farms and regrets the passing of his grandpa's way of farming which has long gone now.
Audible gives away sales book free, 1 bought, 1 free. So I chose a Val Mcdermid to read. I have almost read through Ellie Griffiths and Phil Rickman, so have started a new author. She is rather more brutal in her writng and I am not sure I care for her, perhaps P.D. James would be better.
4524 = My mums Co-op Divi number remembered from the 1960s!
ReplyDeleteI've tried Val McD but just couldn't enjoy and finish them. Also tried English Pastoral and didn't like that either although enjoyed his first book.
I can remember the phone number from childhood, only because it is easy - 365. The Co-op still has a similar method of a points system when shopping, it wasn't too bad.
DeleteMy Mum's divi number 7025 - remembered 85 years - money was taken seriously in those days -. On the reading front I am re-reading Barbara Pym's Excellent Women - blissful easy reading for a hot day - she is perfect fo rsetting a scene in a few words and for observation.
ReplyDeleteFunny how you remember these things Pat, it is almost like the days before capitalism remembering the 'divi' number ;)
DeleteMy Mum's divi no was 24747. That would have been 40s early 50s.
DeleteNow we have to remember passwords Frances, or our incredibly long mobile phone numbers.
DeleteI still have a Co-op card, which is the modern day equivalent. It has an eighteen-digit number! There were several co-operative farms set up around here in the nineteenth century though none of them lasted more than a few years. I enjoyed the James Reebanks book, partly because when I was a lad my father worked on what was probably one of the most backward farms in the country. I know this is so because the War Ag inspectors closed most of those inefficient farms down if they didn't adopt new methods. However the inspector here was a friend of Old Tom and turned a blind eye.
ReplyDeleteI had one of those cards but no Co-op here John. As a child i was sent on holiday to two farms which were still the old fashioned type, so I am glad i had that experience. But childhood days were different then, we had to look after ourselves and had a great deal more freedom.
DeleteThe National Park has a program here, leasing back the old farms to starry eyed youngsters who farm "in the old way", behind horses. The locals subscribe for a portion of the produce. I don't know who loses the most, the farmers or the park.
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