RED Rose Club weekly meetings at the Mosses have seen the return of the Astra Players singing the type of song that is best appreciated by retired people.

There have also been interesting talks, including one about the uses of cast iron in recent centuries. The first use of cast iron in architecture was in the UK when in 1779 Andrew Darby was responsible for the construction of a 200-foot span bridge across the River Severn.

On Sunday July 8 the group had a coach trip to the Lowry Centre where United Co-operatives were celebrating World Co-op Day. At this splendid event there was interest and entertainment for all, including two showings of the acclaimed and thought provoking film Black Gold about the exploitation of coffee farmers in Ethiopia by multinational companies. There were also excerpts from interesting films produced by co-operative societies since the time moving pictures were first invented.

Several theatre groups, and Leek Operatic Society gave half-hour performances. Bands with appeal for both young and old including two splendid co-operative brass bands also entertained.

The Co-operative Movement was the first retailer to take up the Fair Trade issue and there were stalls selling these products.

It is mostly Red Rose members who attend the Bury Group of Co-operative members' bi-monthly meetings. At the July meeting chair of the group, Peter Roscoe spoke about Rochdale Equitable Society, which is recognised by academics around the world as the organisation that was the model for the success of the Co-operative Movement. It was not the first co-operative society, but the principles that it established were the overriding factor which still influences the worldwide movement of eight hundred million members. On this occasion Mr Roscoe referred particularly to the second principle, which relates to member control and the participation in the setting of policies. Chair observed that in reality co-operative societies are mostly very large organisations, which he opined meant that members have little opportunity to exercise these rights except for the option of voting for directors and the ongoing amalgamation of societies.

Members recently voted that United should become part of the country wide Co-operative Group which now accounts for 80 per cent of co-operative trade in the UK and is the world's largest retail co-operative society. It remains to be seen if the Bury Group will be encouraged in the way we have been since Bury Co-operative Society became part of the Norwest Co-operative Society in 1984.