The Co-Op: To be found in Todmorden, now it is 'The Kindness Cafe' and where we had lunch yesterday. It was very full and Matilda's and my food was very late, the other two had eaten up their meals. It is part of the kindness charity that lays at the work of many people who volunteer in Todmorden. For £8 you can get, a vegan breakfast meal, or a vegetarian meal, or a carnivore's meal of sausages. This of course is the only way to go to cater for the wide variety of tastes.
"fair exchange, just price, and the right to charity."
The Co-op started down North as people came together and questioned the right of the mill owner to his wealth and why wasn't it spread more widely. It came because a movement had formed called Owenism and the people who spread this gospel called Owenites The movement came into being in Rochdale under the many co-operatives forming, in about 1844, spreading out to the large towns such as Huddersfield and Manchester. Owen built a rural community next to his works, this was an experiment in an Utopian vision. The town of Saltaire is very much an example of this, built by Titus Salt for the great mill factory he had established and then with housing built for the mill workers and managers.
Listening to Zak Polanski of the Green Party and his talk on the media exchange and one cannot but feel he is carrying on the tradition as he rails against the wealthy (and about time). The right to charity has of course been replaced by the social network that provides help too many people. Also I notice that the old hot potato, Universal Basic Income for everyone, has been pulled out of the dusty cupboard of Green Socialism.
The Co-op as a supermarket is more expensive than either Aldi or Lidl but it can be found in most towns Up North. Not in Tod but in Hebden Bridge, and are they being snobbish? (or perhaps loyal to the traditions of the area) to only allow the Co-op supermarket in the town.
After the wedding a couple of weeks ago, the flowers had to be cleared off the tables for the next wedding event, so we brought ours home and some of them dried as well, a good memory of the wedding.
From my late partner I learnt about English Co-Ops. In my childhood my father was a member of the local dairy farmers co-operative. It didn't have human food items, but everything else a farmer might need on a farm, including fuel.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have a friend who worked for the Milk Board (since gone) and I suppose the Co-op way of bringing stuff together must have birthed the Milk Board.
DeleteThis reminds me of Gracie Fields' song, 'Stop and shop at the Co-op shop.' The Co-op was much more prominent than it is nowadays, though we have two - one in the High Street and a new one in a new housing development.
ReplyDeleteI suppose Janice because like Sainsbury it was one of the beginners. I remember when I was a child they would slice the bacon at the counter and the money was shot through a rigged up affair overhead.
DeleteHow nice that you could bring home flowers from the wedding. Those should dry nicely and be a lovely keepsake.
ReplyDeleteI think it was part of the contract Ellen with the wedding organisers.
DeleteWhat a quaint shop! The co op is a wonderful idea, but too often here, the store becomes a place that offers organic goods, specialty foods, artisan breads and the like. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, here that food commands a high price, which puts it out of reach of families struggling to make ends meet. They will shop at Aldi's or other chain stores
ReplyDeleteA co-operative is just that I suppose Debby, a bunch of people getting together to sell their goods. The Co-op market offers a 'divi' or dividend of the profits, slightly different make-up these days though but you still get some money back.
ReplyDeleteOur local village coop flourishes. Very useful for odd items, because the nearest big supermarket is 5 miles away.
ReplyDeleteThe small Co-ops are pretty good, was always astonished how the small Helmsley in North Yorkshire shop managed to cram in so much.
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