Owen’s 250th Anniversary 2021 celebrations to date

July 10, 2021 by David Smith
      • The Executive Editor, Co-operative Press Wales interviewed the First Minister on March 20  (See the June edition of Co-op News)
      • In March 2021 Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil’s interviewed the First Minister on a ‘What would Robert Owen be doing now? theme. This was excellent and fun.
      • We arranged for the Co-op Group to provide a colourful floral tribute to be displayed at Robert Owen’s statue which is now at the Robert Owen Museum.
      • On May 12, a large birthday cake was provided to excited Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil’s with the Mayor of Newtown, Museum; the Co-op Group and C&MW’s representatives attending.
      • Owen’s 14thMay 2021, 250th Anniversary Celebration more than exceeded our expectations with 64 online participants. Contributors included: the Mayor of Newtown; Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd pupil’s; Akira Kurimoto, former Secretary General, Robert Owen Association (Japan); Cilla Ross, Co-op College Principal; Rebecca Harvey, Executive Editor, Co-op Press; Sara Vicari, (Aroundtheworld.coop, Rome); Gillian Lonergan, former National Co-operative Archive Librarian; Michael Brown, Director for Open Newtown; Dan McCullum, Awel Aman Tawe; Rory Ridley-Duff, Chair, UK Society for Co-operative Studies; Ceri Cunningham & Selwyn Williams, Cwmni Bro Ffestiniog; a Robert Owen Museum 3 D Tour; five breakout sessions on the ‘What would Robert Owen be doing now?’ Big thanks to the UK Co-op Party for funding our Zoom arrangements and other UK co-operative partner organisations who provided financial support. C&MW are now editing the raw video tape.
      • Chris Hall and David Smith supported a Newtown Labour Party event with speaker ideas on a “Best Employment Practices / Robert Owen’s Legacy’ theme with Mick Antoniw SM; with Sara Vicari https://aroundtheworld.coop introducing a video on female worker empowerment.
      • ‘Does Robert Owen’s legacy still resonate in the 21st century?’ – Prof Chris Williams,University College, Cork
      • ‘Robert Owen & the history of the Co-op Movement in Wales’ – Dr Liz McIvor, Co-operative Heritage Trust Manager & Sian Williams, Head of Special Collections & Librarian, South Wales Miners’ Library, Swansea University
      • Co-operative Learning & Methodologies in Schools with Dr Sara Vicari Aroundtheworld.coop

About David Smith

A lifelong co-operative activist. Former roles: Co-op Foundation Trustee; Co-op Group Main Board, Specialist Board & National Values & Principles Committee; Co-op Group Senate; Co-op Group Wales Regional Board, South Wales Area Committee. Public service includes Government Food Adviser; UK Healthcare Regulator. David directed the first EC funded Wales Anti-Poverty Programme; and pioneered co-operative & community initiatives: free legal services, community-based housing associations, care and repair, pre-school & adventure play, local Co-op Development Agencies, multipurpose Social Care Co-operatives. Founded: Cardiff Student Community Action, Welsh Food Alliance & Wales Progressive Co-operators. Board Member, Newport Credit Union; Robert Owen Memorial Museum Trustee. Former Lecturer, Gwent Tertiary College, Graduate Ruskin College, Oxford and UC Cardiff + PGCE, MA (European Human Resource Management) Keele; Professional Food & Management qualifications.
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