Credit union pioneers honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Thursday 11 January 2024

Last month, at the ninth edition of the annual Edward Filene and Joe Biden awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the British Credit Union Historical Society, and its three founders – James Clancy, Frank Duffy, and Martin Logan.

The award was presented to the Historical Society for having given unstinting and entirely voluntary efforts, to the credit unions sector.

The Society was established in 2008 by three former officers of the Greater Manchester Chapter of Credit Unions recognising the lack of a single historical record of the credit union sector in the UK.

Available on its website, the Society has gathered information and records from UK credit unions, credit union trade associations and individuals going all the way back to 1964. These records include documents, photographs, oral histories, video recordings and newspaper clippings. The archives are an important historical resource for credit unions, researchers and members of the community.

Speaking on behalf of the British Credit Union Historical Society, Martin Logan said: “It is a great honour to accept such an award and to have your efforts over many years recognised by one’s fellow peers.

“It makes what we do at the Historical Society all worthwhile. The Society helps to provide the credit union movement with a past and an identity that everyone can be proud of.”

You can read a full round-up of the awards ceremony on the Cooperative News website here.