Movie to tell story of The Co-op’s creation

The Co-operative Group is set to hit the silver screen through a new movie telling the story of its creation.

The Rochdale Pioneers is being made to mark the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives 2012 and will be released in the autumn.

It tells the story of the 28 founders of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society in 1844 – recognised as the birth of the co-operative movement.

The 52-minute film will star John Henshaw – known for roles in Early Doors, Born and Bred, Looking for Eric and Terry Pratchett’s Going Postal – and John McArdle, who has starred  in Brookside, Merseybeat and Gallowglass.

Kevin Atkinson, operations director of The Co-operative British Youth Film Academy and producer for the new film, said: “This is an exciting project which, through the medium of film, will bring the spirit, heart and belief of the original pioneers to a brand new audience.”