Robert the Co-op

'Robert Who?', you may ask. Or maybe not.

This man was born in Newtown, Mid Wales , and left to form the co-operative movement in Rochdale and then on to create 'perfect' communities in New Lanarkshire and, I believe, the United States of America ....... and then returned to his native Newtown to die.

Newtown was called Newtown in circa 1280!!!!

It became a major textile centre in the 19th century and that's where the young Robert Owen got his inspiration from.

This is Newtown's monument to him and it stands behind a statue of him in a memorial garden.

If you're still reading this, note the trades represented in the plaque.

Not a Banker, insurance, Marketing.....person in sight.