Youngsters welcome very special group of visitors

Youngsters from St Patrick’s RC Primary in Rochdale were at the Pioneers Museum on Toad Lane to welcome a very special group of visitors.

Six members of the Co-operative Movement in Singapore were in Rochdale to present the borough with 20 copies of a book which celebrates the 2012 International Year of Co-operatives.

‘A Very Big Storm’ tells the tale of a collection of woodland animals coming together to get through a storm. They collect food and shelter for each other and share resources.

Each of the borough’s libraries will receive a book, while copies will also go to the Pioneers Museum, Touchstones and St Patrick’s Primary.

The party from Singapore included Mr Seah Kiah Peng, a Member of Parliament, and Ms Dolly Goh, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore National Co-operative Foundation.

Their group had been attending Co-operatives United, an international celebration of the movement, in Manchester. They were thrilled to have the chance to visit Rochdale, the World Capital of Co-operatives, and have a tour round the newly reopened Pioneers Museum.

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor James Gartside, was on hand to officially welcome the guests to Rochdale and present them with commemorative glassware.

The Mayor said: “The principles drawn up by the Rochdale Pioneers have gone on to benefit millions of people around the world and we are immensely proud of their legacy.

“It is wonderful that people from around the world feel an affinity with Rochdale and come to visit the place where the Co-operative Movement was born.”