Interview with Martin Spence

This material is held atNational Co-operative Archive

Scope and Content

Interview covers 1970s-2018

[00:04] Martin Spence outlines how he became involved in Days of Hope Bookshop, Newcastle and its early years. [09:35] Comments on the decisions to structure the bookshop formally as a neighbourhood co-op rather than a workers co-op. [11:41] Outlines why the bookshop eventually shut down in the early 1980s. [17:03] Talks about Days of Hope's links to the national Labour Movement and the CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament)and the interesting characters involved with the bookshop including: Andy McSmith, Alan Milburn, E.P Thompson, Bob Clay, and Mo Mowlam. [25:00] Talks about backlash from extremist right wing groups. [28:18] Discusses the customer base of the bookshop. [31:22] Discusses in further detail the decision to structure as a neighbourhood co-op rather than a workers co-op [37:27] Talks about decision making and pay of the workers in the bookshop [43:17] Comments on the gender balance in the bookshop. [46:04] Discusses decision making in the bookshop. [55:09] Comments on networks with other worker co-ops [57:57] Discusses career post Days of Hope. [01:03:07] Speaks briefly about Penge Housing Co-op (South London).

Administrative / Biographical History

Martin Spence was a member of Days of Hope bookshop Newcastle. Following this he then went on to work in a film company based in the North East of England called Trade Films. He then went on to work for the trade union BECTU (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union) in London.

(Interviewer) Philippa Lewis worked as the Project Archivist for the Working Together Project (2017-2018) based at the National Co-operative Archive.

Acquisition Information

In October 2017 the National Co-operative Archive sent out a request for interview participants from the wider workers' co-operative community to take part in Working Together, a Heritage Lottery Funded project seeking to record and preserve the heritage of the workers' co-operative movement. This interview was recorded in response to this request. The interview was conducted at the National Co-operative Archive, Manchester.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

Length of Interview: 01:08:24

Recording Equipment: Zoom H2 Handy recorder

Recording note: Original audio file WAV 48 kHz/16 bit - Copy audio file Mp3

Conditions Governing Use

This interview is licensed under a Creative Commons license (Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives)

Related Material

Transcript and Summary of interview

Location of Originals

Original recording and transcript held at the National Co-operative Archve