List of Presidents of Co-operative Congress

The President of Co-operative Congress has been a prominent position in the British co-operative movement. Co-operative Congress is the national conference for the movement.

Beginning with the first modern Congress in 1869, a Congress President was elected to preside over the event: to begin with, a President was elected for each day of Congress,[1] but from 1896 a single President was elected for the whole event.[2] Being president was considered the highest honour in the UK Co-operative Movement,[3] with societies nominating individuals for the position in recognition of their contribution to the movement.[4][1] The President was presented with a commemorative medal, and gave a keynote address to the conference.[4]

The Congress voted to abolish the position of President in 2007, with Alan Gill (former Chief Executive of Leeds Co-operative Society) being the last to serve in the position.[5]

Congress Presidents 1869-1895

Year/Location Presidents Society/Location/Affiliation Delegates
1869 London Thomas Hughes MP (day 1)
Anthony Mundella MP (day 2)
Walter Morrison MP (day 3)
Hon Auberon Herbert (day 4)
Activist
(Political)
(London)
(Political)
107
1870 Manchester Walter Morrison MP (day 1)
Rev. W. Nassau Molesworth (day 2)
John Tomlinson Hibbert MP (day 3)
Lloyd Jones (day 4)
Political
Vicar of Spotland, Rochdale
(Political)
Activist
109
1871 Birmingham Hon. Auberon Herbert MP (day 1)
Charles C. Cattell (day 2)
Walter Morrison MP (day 3 & 4)
Political
(Birmingham)
(London)
113
1872 Bolton Thomas Hughes MP (day 1)
Edward Vansittart Neale (day 2)
Lloyd Jones (day 3)
Activist
Co-operative Union
Activist
183
1873 Newcastle upon Tyne Joseph Cowen, Jun (day 1)
Dr J. H. Rutherford (day 2)
Thomas Hughes MP (day 3)
(Proprietor, Newcastle Chronicle)
Ouseburn Engine Works
Activist
199
1874 Halifax Thomas Brassey MP (day 1)
Walter Morrison (day 2 & 3)
Political
(Late MP for Plymouth)
189
1875 London Prof. Thorold Rogers (day 1)
Thomas Hughes QC (day 2)
Walter Morrison (day 3)
University of Oxford
Activist
(London)
114
1876 Glasgow Professor Edward Caird (day 1)
George Anderson MP(day 2)
Mr Crabtree (day 3)
Glasgow University
(MP for Glasgow)
(Hebden Bridge)
116
1877 Leicester Hon. Auberon Herbert (day 1)
Lloyd Jones (day 2)
Abraham Greenwood (day 3)
Political
Activist
CWS
162
1878 Manchester Marquess of Ripon (day 1)
James Fraser, Bishop of Manchester (day 2)
Dr. John Watts (day 3)
Honoured Guest
Honoured Guest
Activist
273
1879 Gloucester Professor James Stuart (day 1)
John Thomas Whitehead Mitchell (day 2)
Mr Crabtree (day 3)
Cambridge University
CWS; Rochdale
Hebden Bridge
131
1880 Newcastle upon Tyne Joseph Barber Lightfoot, Bishop of Durham (day 1)
R.S. Watson (day 2)
H.R. Bailey (day 3)
Honoured Guest
(Solicitor, Newcastle)
Co-op Printing, Manchester
174
1881 Leeds Lord Derby (day 1)
Thomas Hughes QC (day 2)
James Crabtree (day 3)
Honoured Guest
Activist
North Western Section (possibly Hebden Bridge)
310
1882 Oxford Lord Reay (day 1)
Cllr Henry Pumphrey (day 2)
Geo Hines (day 3)
Honoured Guest
Lewes Building
Ipswich
294
1883 Edinburgh Rt. Hon. William Edward Baxter MP (day 1)
William Maxwell (day 2)
John Allan (day 3)
Political (MP for Montrose)
SCWS
(Glasgow)
394
1884 Derby Sedley Taylor, MA (day 1)
A. Scotton (day 2)
Cllr Hartley (day 3)
(Trinity College, Cambridge)
(Derby)
Lincoln
454
1885 Oldham Lloyd Jones (day 1)
F. Hardern (day 2)
Lewis Feber (day 3)
Activist
Oldham Industrial
Oldham Equitable
578
1886 Plymouth Earl of Morley (day 1)
Arthur Dyke Acland MP (day 2)
J.H. Young (day 3)
Honoured Guest
Political; Oxford University
Plymouth
406
1887 Carlisle George Holyoake (day 1)
Sir Wilfrid Lawson MP (day 2)
Councillor Rule (day 3)
Activist
Honoured Guest (Carlisle)
(Gateshead)
464
1888 Dewsbury Edward Vansittart Neale (day 1)
Marquess of Ripon (day 2)
John Cave (day 3)
Co-operative Union
Honoured Guest
Dewsbury
581
1889 Ipswich Professor Alfred Marshall (day 1)
Benjamin Jones (day 2)
Geo Hines (day 3)
Cambridge University
(London)
Ipswich
435
1890 Glasgow Earl of Rosebery (day 1)
William Maxwell (day 2)
James Deans (day 3)
Honoured Guest
SCWS
Kilmarnock
654
1891 Lincoln Arthur Dyke Acland MP (day 1)
D. M’Innes (day 2)
J. Hepworth (day 3)
Political
Lincoln
Coventry Watchmakers
580
1892 Rochdale J.T.W. Mitchell, JP (day 1)
A. Greenwood (day 2)
T. Cheetham (day 3)
CWS; Rochdale
CWS
Rochdale
871
1893 Bristol Councillor G. Hawkins (day 1)
Joseph Clay (day 2)
W.H. Brown (day 3)
Oxford; CWS London Branch
(Gloucester)
(Newport)
645
1894 Sunderland T. Tweddell, JP (day 1)
J. McKendrick (day 2)
W. Crooks (day 3)
Hartlepool; CWS Newcastle Branch
(Newcastle)
(Blaydon)
722
1895 Huddersfield George Thomson (day 1)
T. Bland JP (day 2)
J. Broadbent (day 3)
William Thomson Industrial Partnership, Huddersfield
(Huddersfield)
Huddersfield Industrial
849

Congress Presidents 1896-1944

Year/Location President Society/Location/Affiliation Delegates
1896 Woolwich B. Jones Parliamentary Secretary; Tenant Co-operators; London CWS 900
1897 Perth William Maxwell, JP SCWS 1000
1898 Peterborough D. McInnes Lincoln 932
1899 Liverpool F. Hardern, JP Oldham Industrial 1205
1900 Cardiff W.H. Brown Newport 1027
1901 Middlesbrough J. Warwick North Shields 1138
1902 Exeter G. Hawkins Oxford; CWS London Branch 1006
1903 Doncaster J. Shillito CWS; Halifax 1150
1904 Stratford A. Golightly Stratford (London) 1376
1905 Paisley William Maxwell SCWS 1318
1906 Birmingham J.C. Gray, JP Co-operative Union 1320
1907 Preston W. Lander Bolton 1492
1908 Newport T.W. Allen Blaina 1334
1909 Newcastle upon Tyne W.R. Rae Sunderland 1556
1910 Plymouth H.J.A. Wilkins Plymouth 1442
1911 Bradford George Thorpe Dewsbury 1615
1912 Portsmouth William Openshaw CWS London 1489
1913 Aberdeen James Deans Kilmarnock 1247
1914 Dublin R. Fleming Belfast 1367
1915 Leicester G. Bastard Leicester 1410
1916 Lancaster W. Gregory, JP Preston 1345
1917 Swansea E.R. Wood Ton 1044
1918 Liverpool T. Killon CWS 1268
1919 Carlisle F. Hayward Burslem 1559
1920 Bristol G.A. Ramsay, BA (West Country) 1669
1921 Scarborough G. Major Rotherham 1515
1922 Brighton Margaret Davies Co-operative Women's Guild 1411
1923 Edinburgh R. Stewart SCWS 1571
1924 Nottingham C.A.W. Saxton Worcester 1546
1925 Southport W.E. Dudley, JP CWS 1709
1926 Belfast W.J. McGuffin, JP Belfast 1411
1927 Cheltenham J.T. Jackson Gloucester 1734
1928 Hartlepool A. Whitehead Co-operative Union 1662
1929 Torquay H.J. May, OBE, JP ICA; Royal Arsenal; Co-operative Printing 1558
1930 York T. Liddle, MBE, JP Hartlepools 1572
1931 Bournemouth W.J. Salmon, JP Colchester 1619
1932 Glasgow J. Downie Wishaw 1633
1933 Birmingham J. Millington, JP Birmingham 1621
1934 Rhyl A. Pickup Birkenhead 1734
1935 Cardiff W.I. Edwards, JP (South Wales) 1814
1936 Newcastle upon Tyne G. Riddle, CBE Carlisle 1772
1937 Bath E.G. Haskins, JP Bath 1889
1938 Scarborough J.J. Worley Leicester 1944
1939 Margate W.B. Neville, JP Royal Arsenal 1957
1940 Glasgow W. Gallacher, JP SCWS 1517
1941 Edinburgh Sir Fred Hayward, JP Burslem 1063
1942 Edinburgh Neil S. Beaton, JP SCWS 1263
1943 Edinburgh T. Lawther Amble 1354
1944 Cancelled on account of War conditions

Congress Presidents 1945-2007

Year/Location President Society/Location/Affiliation Delegates
1945 Nottingham Robert Palmer, JP Co-operative Union 1584
1946 Blackpool J. Bradshaw, JP Co-operative Union 1721
1947 Brighton G.L. Perkins (Winchester) 1770
1948 Edinburgh A.J. Tapping Co-operative Press 1796
1949 Scarborough Thomas Gill, JP CWS 1839
1950 Morecambe J.W. Blower, CBE, JP Ripley 1978
1951 Blackpool H. Taylor Kettering Industrial; Kettering Clothing; CPF 2027
1952 Margate Lord Williams CWS 2020
1953 Llandudno J. Corina Royal Arsenal 2015
1954 Scarborough H.J. Twigg Plymouth 2032
1955 Edinburgh J.M. Davidson SCWS 2062
1956 Blackpool G.R. Doulgas, JP Birkenhead 2149
1957 Brighton F. Oakley, BA Mansfield Sutton 2120
1958 Scarborough James Peddie MBE CWS 2127
1958 Blackpool James Peddie MBE CWS 1831
1959 Edinburgh J.A. Stirling, FACCA SCWS 2137
1960 Blackpool A.E. Jupp, CSD CPF 2122
1961 Scarborough John Jacques, BA(Com), JP Portsea Island 2106
1962 Blackpool P.M. Williams, JP Hartlepools 2119
1963 Douglas L. Cooke, OBE, JP CWS 2026
1964 Scarborough Jack Bailey Co-operative Party 2029
1965 Edinburgh D. Shaw, JP, FACCA St. Cuthbert's 1980
1966 Blackpool G.L. Armitage, JP, FCA, FCIS Birmingham 1908
1967 Douglas H.C. Jennings CWS 1667
1968 Scarborough Lord Taylor of Gryfe SCWS 1583
1969 Blackpool R. Southern, CBE, BA(Com), CHD Co-operative Union 1323
1970 Blackpool H. Kemp, JP, CSD CWS 1162
1971 Eastbourne G. Williams, FACCA Cambridge 961
1971 London G. Williams, FACCA Cambridge 551
1972 Scarborough A. Wilson, FCIS, FBIM CWS 917
1973 Portsmouth B.T. Parry, JP, CMD Blackburn 876
1974 Llandudno J.M. Wood, CHD Parliamentary Committee 924
1975 Edinburgh Mrs. E.M. Dodds CWS; CRS 913
1976 Margate R.L. Marshall, OBE, MA Co-operative Union; Co-operative College 850
1977 Blackpool G.R. Gay, JP, DL St. Cuthbert's 886
1978 Scarborough Sir Arthur Sugden CWS 891
1979 Eastbourne J.H. Perrow, CSD Bolton & Wigan 1002
1980 Douglas H. Bailey, CBE Rushden 857
1981 Edinburgh H.W. Whitehead, JP North Eastern 676
1982 Brighton W.H. Twigg, MBE Brightside & Carbrook 679
1983 Harrogate Mrs. N.E. Willis, JP CRS London 690
1984 Blackpool Mrs. G. Bunn, JP Brighton 650
1985 Bournemouth G. Bromley, JP Leicestershire 616
1986 Llandudno W.H. Farrow, CSD United Co-operatives 588
1987 Harrogate Ted Graham, Baron Graham of Edmonton Political 594
1988 Brighton J. Mason, DL Blackburn 583
1989 Torquay F.R. Pashley Greater Nottingham 571
1990 Glasgow W.P. Anderson Central Midlands 559
1991 Llandudno A. Arlow Greater Peterborough 561
1992 Scarborough David Wise OBE Political; Invicta 548
1993 Portsmouth George Cunningham Musselburgh & Fisherrow 583
1994 Rochdale U.S. Todner MBE East Mercia 660
1995 Edinburgh Alf Morris MP Political 565
1996 Harrogate G.W. Money, MBE Yorkshire 560
1997 Cardiff Pauline Green MEP Political 543
1998 Lincoln Alan Middleton Lincoln 531
1999 Brighton Bob Burlton Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester 428
2000 Manchester Mrs. P. Wheatley United Norwest Co-operatives 489
2001 Birmingham Lord Fyfe of Fairfield Midlands 472
2002 Belfast Sir Graham Melmoth the Co-operative Group
2003 Manchester Gareth Thomas MP Co-operative Party
2004 Manchester Keith Darwin The Co-operative Group
2005 Glasgow Iain Macdonald International Co-operative Alliance
2006 Manchester Meg Munn MP Political
2007 Brighton Alan Gill United Co-operatives

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Co-operative Congress, 2005, retrieved 2007-10-18
  2. Congress Presidents 1869-2002 (PDF), February 2002, retrieved 2007-10-18
  3. Alan Middleton ( Scholar search), February 2007, retrieved 2007-10-18
  4. 4.0 4.1 Congress President’s Speech ( Scholar search), 22 May 2006, retrieved 2007-10-18
  5. It's not really news, 27 July 2007, retrieved 2007-10-18