Former Congress President dies at 82

FORMER Congress President and Brighton Society President Gladys Bunn has died at the age of 82.

Mrs Bunn, from Hayward&#039s Heath, Sussex, had over 65 years involvement with the Movement after becoming a member of the Federation of Young Co-operators in 1937.

She was elected to the Central Executive of the Co-operative Union in 1973 and became vice-chair six years later. She also chaired the Education Executive, served on the National Council of Labour, the ICA central committee and on the NEC of the Co-operative Party.

A magistrate for over 25 years, Mrs Bunn – who met her late husband Ted in the co-operative youth movement – was only the fourth woman Congress President in history when she was honoured at Blackpool in 1984.

She said at the time: "I am highly honoured by this rare distinction, which is the culmination of a lifetime&#039s involvement with the Co-operative Movement. Its social aspirations have been the guiding philosophy of my life."