I was brought up with the Co-op during the war.

The eldest of five, I went to collect our weekly rations at the Tang Hall Lane branch and my first suit with long trousers was made at the Rougier Street head office branch, now George Hudson Street.

Mr Hartshorn from Burnholme Avenue called weekly for the payments.

Later I went to the dances in the Co-op Hall Rougier Street, when York was full of our forces and those of all our friendly forces, like the Canadian, American, Free French in navy-blue uniforms and Poles from all the camps and aerodromes in the area.

Later, when I earned a bit more, I graduated to the Albany in Goodramgate and even the De Gray Rooms in St Leonard’s.

But more regularly at the Flaxman Avenue Hall.

It makes me sad to read the present leader of the Co-op saying it is now ungovernable but I can understand, in today’s world ,how that could be so. I wouldn’t like to try it!

George Appleby, Leighton Croft, Clifton, York