Stories from our Co-operative past ………… no. 1 Chorlton and Manley Park Women’s Guild

1948

For years this banner took pride of place on a wall in the Committee Rooms above the Hardy Lane Co-op store on Barlow Moor Road.

In those quiet moments during meetings I would stare at the banner and ponder on its history.

I can’t date when the banner was made but according to Lawrence Beedle the photograph was taken during the Chorlton and Manley Park Women's Guild 25th Annual Party.

At the meeting the "Freedom of the Branch" was presented to Mrs. Lomas the Secretary and Mrs. Scott for being associated with the Guild for a quarter of a century.

The cake was presented by Mrs. Mayo who received a cake stand for her services.

And it is well worth remembering that that making the cake would have been a real challenge, given that in 1948 when the event happened, food was still being rationed.

Circa 1986

The banner which is blue is now held by the People's History Museum in their banner archive.

It has stitching on a royal blue background.

The Co-op Hall has since it was opened been a venue for meetings of the Labour Party, the Co-op Party, along with Chorlton and Manley Park Women's Guild, the Woodcraft Folk and has regularly been used as committee rooms.

And as ever, soon after the story went live, Dave King sent me these two certificates which belonged to Alice and William Lomas who were his grand parents, commenting, "Mrs. Lomas was my grandmother and she  lived at 21 Provis Road.  "She was something big in the Mothers Union and a Teetotalers organisation. 

Mrs. Lomas is awarded the Freedom of the Branch, 1947

Her husband was William (Bill) Lomas who was a builder/plumber. I have included his certification picture  .

Alice is the lady in your picture holding the knife, and the 1947 certificate was when the Co-op was on Beech Road and the one on Manchester Road next to the Royal Oak was relatively new".

And for now that is it, but given Mr. and Mrs. Lomas's involvement in the Co-operative and Labour Movements  I think with David's help there will be much more to come.

William Lomas, 1917

To which Lawrence has added, "Chorlton & Manley Park was a Women’s Co-Op Guild founded 1922 and Barlow Moor was a Mixed Guild founded 1931. Both had different banners and met in different co-op halls. The 1986 picture with you, Tom, Dave Black is at a Labour Party meeting- it might be a selection or shortlisting meeting.

I’ve not looked at the local Co-Op Guild history for years but am now inclined to write a small article about them with some photos for your blog.

I have a box of old 78 rpm records rescued from Hardy Lane before a refurbishment. They had gramophone nights and hired a record player from the Co-Op head office".

Research; Lawrence Beedle

Location; Chorlton

Picture; of the banner and the presentation, supplied by Lawrence Beedle the Manchester & Salford Herald Co-Operative Herald January 1948 page 21 and some of the Co-operative Party, circa 1986, and two certificates for Alice, and William Lomas, 1947 & 1917 courtesy of  Dave King