The Co-op Bank has been my only bank. I joined Nationwide to, if needed, vote against
demutualisation. Fortunately this was not required.
I was secretary of my local London Co-operative Society area committee in the 1960s.
More recently I was twice elected to the Co-op Group Area Committee, Herts & Essex. As
committee members we were encouraged to attend residential courses and many
meetings in Manchester for AGMs, etc.
I've also attended Co-ops UK meetings in London and Cardiff, several 'Save our Bank'
meetings in person in Manchester, and had significant involvement throughout my region.
Therefore I feel quite au fait with the co-op movement in all its pluses and minuses!
I've put my name forward for the board of the Customer Union as I would like to see the
acquisition of the Bank by Coventry BS prove to be successful and, equally importantly,
prove a game changer in building society member involvement. At present participation is
sadly extremely low.
