Co-op News September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 | 47
a Manchester works, a London branch and a
Newcastle branch and became known as the Cooperative
Printing Society.
The Co-operative Newspaper Society (CNS)
bought its own printing machinery in 1887, built
new premises at 22 Long Millgate, Manchester
in 1895 and launched new publications Millgate
Monthly, Our Circle, Women’s Outlook, Cooperative
Youth and Sunshine Stories (as well
as Reynolds News/Sunday Citizen newspapers)
– recognising the importance of engaging with
young people and women.
The CNS became the National Co-operative
Publishing Society, which in turn was renamed
Co-operative Press in 1934, and built up an
envied reputation as a printer and publisher
to the co-operative, labour and trade union
movements. The Co-operative Press became
the country’s largest trade union printers, and
broadened the base of the Co-operative Press
outside the movement was effected through two
companies — Trafford Press Limited and Trafford
Advertising Limited – but the increasing costs
and technological changed led to the decision
to exit the printing sector in 1999, sell off the
society’s remaining Old Trafford print works
(having previously divested its Birmingham
and Newcastle premises), and move the head
office to Holyoake House, a stone’s throw from
its original base in Balloon Street, and current
home to offices for a family of co-ops including
Co-operatives UK, the Co-operative College, the
Co-operative Heritage Trust, the Association of
British Credit Unions, the Phone Co-op and Third
Sector Accountancy.
Co-operative News has had just 15 editors in
its 150-year existence including a father and
son who held the post for 46 of the publication’s
first 50 years – and just two women, Lily Howe
and myself. They are: R Bailey Walker(1871);
John Collier Farn (1871-1875); Samuel Bamford
(1875-1898); William Bamford (1898-1921); James
A Flanagan (1921-1937); William Richardson
(later Sir William, 1937-1942); Fred Tootill (1942-
1955); David Boydell (1955); Frank Bruckshaw (
1955-1972); Lily Howe (1972-1984); David Short
(1984-1986); Geoff Whiteley (1984-1999); David
Bowman (1999-2012); Anthony Murray (2012-
2018); and Rebecca Harvey (2018- present).
Between us we have witnessed huge changes
within the co-operative movement, both in
“Co-operative News has
had just 15 editors in its
150-year existence”
the UK and internationally, as well as wider
changes in technology, communication and the
role of the media. As society and co-operatives
have evolved, so too has Co-op News, in scale,
scope and in its fundamental role of connecting
co-operatives, championing their successes
and challenging their misdemeanors. We
have a growing number of organisational and
individual members around the world. Last
year, our website was visited by someone in
every single country in the world (except three).
We are adapting and developing while staying
respectful of our - and the movement’s past.
Thank you for coming on this journey with
us. We are looking forward to seeing where we
go next.