A Somewhat Upside Down Life

Memoir: Roger Sawtell

“For some people, the striving for power and money gives satisfaction and, if successful, such people may become grasping bankers or ruthless top executives. But I had discovered long ago that contentment comes from friends and family and having a purpose, so it was no great sacrifice for me to forego the the material benefits which the chief executive of a medium-sized company could expect. My ambition now lay in a different direction”.

“Help was at hand in the shape of Scott Bader Ltd, a medium-sized business making polyester resins for glassfibre construction, founded and developed by Ernest Bader, Swiss, Quaker, pacifist, vegetarian………..Ernest Bader had recently completed the transformation of this thriving family firm into an employee owned business”.

Roger tells his story including his successful career with Spear & Jackson, Sheffield throughout the 1950s, his meeting of minds with Ted Wickham of the Sheffield Industrial Mission and the role that he played in the Co-operative Development Agency (CDA), Industrial Common Ownership Movement (ICOM), Industrial Common Ownership Finance (ICOF) and the foundation of Daily Bread Co-operative in Northampton.

This is an interesting book and comes with a recommendation to anyone who is interested in co-operatives.

Author: Roger Sawtell