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]
| 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 John Hunter 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) George 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) Amos Scotton (day 2) J. Hartley (day 3) | (Trinity College, Cambridge) (Derby) Lincoln | 454 |
| 1885 Oldham | Lloyd Jones (day 1) Frank 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) Ben Jones (day 2) George 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) Duncan McInnes (day 2) Joseph Hepworth (day 3) | Political Lincoln Coventry Watchmakers | 580 |
| 1892 Rochdale | John Thomas Whitehead Mitchell, JP (day 1) Abraham Greenwood (day 2) T. Cheetham (day 3) | CWS; Rochdale CWS Rochdale | 871 |
| 1893 Bristol | Councillor George Hawkins (day 1) Joseph Clay (day 2) William Henry Brown (day 3) | Oxford; CWS London Branch (Gloucester) (Newport) | 645 |
| 1894 Sunderland | Thomas Tweddell, JP (day 1) James McKendrick (day 2) William Crooks (day 3) | Hartlepool; CWS Newcastle Branch (Newcastle) (Blaydon) | 722 |
| 1895 Huddersfield | George Thomson (day 1) Thomas Bland JP (day 2) James Broadbent (day 3) | William Thomson Industrial Partnership, Huddersfield (Huddersfield) Huddersfield Industrial | 849 |
| Year/Location | President | Society/Location/Affiliation | Delegates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 Woolwich | Ben Jones | Parliamentary Secretary; Tenant Co-operators; London CWS | 900 |
| 1897 Perth | William Maxwell, JP | SCWS | 1000 |
| 1898 Peterborough | Duncan McInnes | Lincoln | 932 |
| 1899 Liverpool | Frank Hardern, JP | Oldham Industrial | 1205 |
| 1900 Cardiff | William Henry Brown | Newport | 1027 |
| 1901 Middlesbrough | Joseph Warwick | North Shields | 1138 |
| 1902 Exeter | George Hawkins | Oxford; CWS London Branch | 1006 |
| 1903 Doncaster | John Shillito | CWS; Halifax | 1150 |
| 1904 Stratford | Alfred Golightly | Stratford (London) | 1376 |
| 1905 Paisley | William Maxwell | SCWS | 1318 |
| 1906 Birmingham | J. C. Gray, JP | Co-operative Union | 1320 |
| 1907 Preston | William Lander | Bolton | 1492 |
| 1908 Newport | Thomas William Allen | Blaina | 1334 |
| 1909 Newcastle upon Tyne | W. R. Rae | Sunderland | 1556 |
| 1910 Plymouth | Henry Wilkins | Plymouth | 1442 |
| 1911 Bradford | George Thorpe | Dewsbury | 1615 |
| 1912 Portsmouth | William Openshaw | CWS London | 1489 |
| 1913 Aberdeen | James Deans | Kilmarnock | 1247 |
| 1914 Dublin | Robert Fleming | Belfast | 1367 |
| 1915 Leicester | George Bastard | Leicester | 1410 |
| 1916 Lancaster | William Gregory, JP | Preston | 1345 |
| 1917 Swansea | E. R. Wood | Ton | 1044 |
| 1918 Liverpool | Thomas Killon | CWS | 1268 |
| 1919 Carlisle | Fred Hayward | Burslem | 1559 |
| 1920 Bristol | G. A. Ramsay, BA | (West Country) | 1669 |
| 1921 Scarborough | George Major | Rotherham | 1515 |
| 1922 Brighton | Margaret Davies | Co-operative Women's Guild | 1411 |
| 1923 Edinburgh | Robert Stewart | SCWS | 1571 |
| 1924 Nottingham | Chas Saxton | Worcester | 1546 |
| 1925 Southport | W. E. Dudley, JP | CWS | 1709 |
| 1926 Belfast | William James McGuffin, JP | Belfast | 1411 |
| 1927 Cheltenham | J. T. Jackson | Gloucester | 1734 |
| 1928 Hartlepool | Alfred Whitehead | Co-operative Union | 1662 |
| 1929 Torquay | Henry May, OBE, JP | ICA; Royal Arsenal; Co-operative Printing | 1558 |
| 1930 York | Thomas Liddle, MBE, JP | Hartlepools | 1572 |
| 1931 Bournemouth | William John Salmon, JP | Colchester | 1619 |
| 1932 Glasgow | John Downie | Wishaw | 1633 |
| 1933 Birmingham | Joseph Millington, JP | Birmingham | 1621 |
| 1934 Rhyl | Arthur Pickup | Birkenhead | 1734 |
| 1935 Cardiff | Wyndham Edwards, JP | (South Wales) | 1814 |
| 1936 Newcastle upon Tyne | George Riddle, CBE | Carlisle | 1772 |
| 1937 Bath | E. G. Haskins, JP | Bath | 1889 |
| 1938 Scarborough | Joseph Worley | Leicester | 1944 |
| 1939 Margate | William Neville, JP | Royal Arsenal | 1957 |
| 1940 Glasgow | William Gallacher, JP | SCWS | 1517 |
| 1941 Edinburgh | Sir Fred Hayward, JP | Burslem | 1063 |
| 1942 Edinburgh | Neil S. Beaton, JP | SCWS | 1263 |
| 1943 Edinburgh | Thomas Lawther | Amble | 1354 |
| 1944 | Cancelled on account of War conditions |
| 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 Harry 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 | Robert 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 |