Mr. Bailey has a staggering list of activities and achievements. These days he would have found it comparatively easy with his native abilities to get scholarships and work his way through university.

They believed in starting young in those days. He put up for Rushden Society at 18 and was 22 when he was elected to the board. He found there was an enormous age gap with some of the middle-aged board members but they got on afl right after a time.

He has been a director of East Northants Society, since 1937 not only the youngest member ever, but the youngest president 1951-1962. He has been a life member from 1962 and was re-elected to the board in 1969.

Elected
He was an elected member of the Midland sectional board from 1959-1962 and from 1969 to date a CWS representative.

A member of the Co-operative Party national executive from 1972, he has also been a member of the Parliamentary Committee from 1971 and became chairman in June. He is a liaison director with 27 co-operative societies.

Harry has never limited his activities to the co-operative movement; he envisages it as a lynchpin in the wider social movement which has played a great part in British history and will continue to do so, so long as we retain its democratic character.

The broader field includes: county councillor, Higham Ferrers Constituency 1970 to date; chairman of the planning and transportation committee of Northampton County Council and a member of the Planning and Transport Committee of the Association of County Councils; group secretary of the Northants County Council Labour group, member of the Policy and Resources, Land and Buildings and joint consultaion committee, Northants County Council; a member of the East Midlands Forum of County Councils.

Occupied
Other activities are too lengthy to list which makes one wonder how one man has managed to pack so much into one lifetime, except to remember that Harry Bailey has been fully occupied for 40 years or more already!

After winning a scholarship to Kettering Grammar School (1926-30) he served as an officer of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives and was later an officer of the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, reaching the rank of senior executive officer.

His civil service career included chairmanship of the National Committee, Society of Civil Servants, Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance 1952-62; a member of the national executive committee, Society, of Civil Servants (1960-62).

Devoted
Mr. Bailey who is married with two sons and two grandchildren will by 60 in August which means he has already devoted 40 years to the service of the co-operative movement and the wider social field.

Both sons are active in the Labour movement. Alan, who is a teacher at a comprehensive school is vice-chairman of Kettering Labour Party. Robin is following in father's footsteps. He was elected to Higham Borough Council at 21, the youngest in the history of the 'Ancient Borough' whose history goes back 700 years. He is now deputy manager, Luton branch Nationwide Building Society. Both sons are married and the grandchildren are Alan's.

Harry Bailey has trenchant views on the future of the co-operative movement. He believes there is an optimum prize for a co-operative society—"As soon as they get too big there is a tendency for democracy within the organisation to break down."

Preserved
He thinks more regional societies will come about by economic forces, but he is very anxious that local democracy should be preserved inside the bigger organisations with their massive capital and management structure. "A society must still be controlled by its members, whatever its size; otherwise all will be lost in the long run."

He added "We have not gone out as much as we should to encourage members to participate in the running of a society. 20 years ago in my own society we used to have an education committee which concentrated oh a particular street or area, sent cards to every household which was a member of the society inviting them to a meeting, and we used to get results. Later the education committee vanished, which was a pity.

"In the realm of foodstuffs there is very little the movement cannot supply in the shape of quality goods at reasonable prices.

Sport has not been neglected: president, Higham Ferrers Cricket Club; vice-president Rushden Baptist and Rushden Mission Cricket Clubs; vice-president Higham Ferrers and Rushden Rugby Club.

Collaboration
"But we need close collaboration of retail societies with the CWS.

"The lines of communication of societies must be carefully watched; if a society gets too big and the lines become straggly this does not make for efficiency and we will surely land in the creek.

"There are, of course, some sticky problems. You are sure to upset someone if you close a shop and the human factors have to be studied although economic ones are vital."

Speaking about the post-war progress of the CWS Mr. Bailey said that top management had undoubtedly proved itself, and they were still beating competition, still selling products to private trade which was a tribute in itself.

He believes the development of the CWS and retail societies generally is one of the biggest democratic safeguards of society for several reasons, one of the chief being the danger of monopolies or semi-monopolies which could hold the consumer to ransom.

"We are not just out to create a giant organisation; our essential aim is to meet the aspirations of ordinary people and to preserve our finest traditions."