Celebrating Co-operative History in Lowestoft - new date set

New date set for Celebrating Co-operative history in Lowestoft

Please come and enjoy us on this special day to celebrate the former CWS Canning Factory that once employed over 1000 people in the town.

Originally planned as part of the September Heritage Open Day’s festival, the event was postponed following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

‘Prepared by the Shore, Sold by the Store’ will feature a special exhibition, film screenings, memorabilia and lots of memories will now run from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 15 October, in the Parcels Office Exhibition Space at Lowestoft railway station.

Organised by the Central England Co-operative's Membership & Community Council, the day is a chance to celebrate and reminisce about the former CWS Canning Factory, based on Waveney Drive and Riverside Road from 1932 through to its eventual demolition in 2000.

All are welcome to join the free event, especially former factory employees with a chance to reminisce whilst enjoying some free Coop cake and drink. The team will be sharing how the Cooperative movement continues to play a vital role in Lowestoft and they would love to see any memorabilia that anyone connected with the factory would like to share.

Opened in 1932, occupying part of the former Maconochie Bros site, the CWS factory grew considerably manufacturing a host of food products including the Waveney Brand which were sold in Co-op stores across the UK, the movement also owned the former Rogerson Hall holiday centre near Corton for use by Co-op employees.

The Central England Co-operative was formed following a series of mergers with the original Beccles Co-op and Lowestoft Co-op Societies (later Waveney Co-op and then Anglia Regional Co-op) forming part of the group.

As part of the celebrations, a specially produced booklet featuring a history of the factory will be available free of charge to those attending. There is no need to book with the drop in event running from 10am to 4pm.

The event has being staged by kind permission of the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership and the Lowestoft Central Project and are free for the public to enjoy with no need to book.