The word about co-operation was spreading and there were early attempts to get a co-operative society going in Ipswich. In the 1840s there was a shop at 34 Carr Street and a little later in 1858 another attempt was made and this time the shop stayed open for about five years. But, it was not until 1867 that a successful fresh start was made. The initiative as taken by George Hines, a local man, born in Tattingstone and brought up in Ipswich. As a boy he went to sea; served in the Baltic during the Crimean War and saw Garibaldi land in Sicily. He was a self-taught man who was keenly aware of the difficulties facing a working man who wished to improve himself.

When he was twenty-one he left the sea to join the railways as a guard and later became the Secretary of a boot manufacturing company. The company was owned by Frederick Bugg, a successful business man, who was also known as a champion of the interests of the working people in the town.

Getting Started

George Hines was instrumental in making the merits of co-operation known to others in the town and from those who attended a meeting at Pearce’s Rooms in Princes Street, a committee was formed to establish a co-operative society. Jeffrey Snelling, a printer, was Secretary from 1868-1869, followed by George Hines (left) from 1869 - 1873. Frederick Bugg (right), became Ipswich Society’s first President, remaining in office until Hines succeeded him in 1877. They were joined by other working men, most of whom were skilled tradesmen and included in their number one or two clerks and the schoolmaster of the ragged school. 

Ipswich

It took some time for the rules of the Society to be drawn up and on 3rd March 1868, the Ipswich Industrial Co-operative Society was registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies. This date marks the formal beginning of the Society.

It wasn’t until Thursday 25th March 1869, after a great deal of searching for a suitable property, that the Society opened its first shop, coincidentally, at 34 Carr Street - business was brisk, but it took sometime to find the right store keeper and to return a profit.

Norwich

A little later Norwich had a similar tale to tell. A co-operative society had also been set up in 1858, but had sadly failed. Not until 1874 was a fresh start attempted and in the summer of 1876 they eventually found a suitable shop in Goat Lane, before moving to larger premises in Pottergate Street, Norwich, in 1879.

Like Hines and Bugg, a significant figure in the early history of the Norwich Society, was Mr J.T. Gee, who moved through unpaid offices as Education Secretary, Committee member, Treasurer, Auditor, Chairman and Secretary. He was appointed permanent Secretary in 1884 and eventually retired as General Manager in
                                      1922.