October 2022 digital edition
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QUEEN ELIZABETH II<br />
Co-ops pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II<br />
Co-operators in the UK were among those<br />
sending condolences to the Royal Family<br />
following the death last month of Her<br />
Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.<br />
The Queen, who died on 8 September<br />
aged 96, had visited Rochdale in 1994 for<br />
the 150th anniversary of the founding of<br />
the Rochdale Pioneers’ Toad Lane store.<br />
“The Queen and Prince Philip both<br />
went to the exhibition held at what is now<br />
Touchstones, which was up for the whole<br />
p Home Magazine – Editor’s letter on the<br />
occasion of the Queen’s coronation (Image:<br />
Co-operative Heritage Trust)<br />
year, with information and activities<br />
about the development of the co-operative<br />
movement,” says Gillian Lonergan, co-op<br />
historian. “It was decided that they should<br />
go to Touchstones as there was more space<br />
for people to gather and meet them rather<br />
than at Toad Lane; the necessary security<br />
precautions precluded visiting both sites.”<br />
The Queen also visited Manchester<br />
in 2013, when she officially opened the<br />
Co-operative Group’s new head office at<br />
One Angel Square – which at the time<br />
was the greenest building in the world.<br />
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh,<br />
the Queen toured the building before<br />
unveiling a plaque to mark the formal<br />
opening of the 14-storey building and<br />
signing the visitor’s book. Prince Philip<br />
had opened the CIS building in 1962.<br />
“On behalf of the Co-op Group I would<br />
like to offer our deepest condolences to<br />
the Royal Family, following the news<br />
about the passing of Her Royal Highness,<br />
the Queen,” wrote Group CEO, Shirine<br />
Khoury-Haq, on Twitter. “Our thoughts<br />
are with the Royal Family, and we join<br />
all others who will be reflecting on her<br />
historic reign.”<br />
Tributes were paid by other cooperative<br />
retail societies including<br />
Midcounties Co-operative and Central<br />
England Co-operative, while the Coop<br />
Party announced it would suspend<br />
p The CWS celebrates the Queen’s coronation<br />
(Image: Co-operative Heritage Trust)<br />
all campaign activity and events until<br />
further notice as a mark of respect.<br />
“We are deeply saddened to hear of<br />
the passing of Her Majesty the Queen,”<br />
said Jim McMahon MP, chair of the Cooperative<br />
Party.<br />
“She has served our country with<br />
distinction over the past 70 years, and in<br />
the coming days, our nation will come<br />
together to mourn and remember her<br />
extraordinary contribution to British life. I<br />
send the thoughts and condolences of our<br />
Party and our movement to her family.”<br />
Rose Marley, Co-operatives UK CEO,<br />
said: “Queen Elizabeth II had an affinity<br />
and connection with co-operatives ... Like<br />
co-operatives, Her Royal Highness had<br />
an enduring presence and adaptability -<br />
the ability to reinvent oneself even as the<br />
world transforms around you.<br />
“Her staying power; her dignity; her<br />
quiet effectiveness... Her Royal Highness,<br />
Queen Elizabeth II was a low-key, but<br />
u The Queen opening One Angel Square,<br />
home of the Co-operative Group’s<br />
headquarters, in 2013 (Im age: the<br />
Co-operative Group)<br />
t The Queen on a visit to Rochdale in 1994<br />
(Image: Co-operative Heritage Trust)<br />
6 | OCTOBER <strong>2022</strong>