Swaythling passenger cars in the UK, leaving the Southampton made Transit as their only British-made vehicle. In 2009, with the new Kocaeli, Turkey, plant in full production, Ford reluctantly halved production at Southampton and reduced the workforce to just over 500. Employing 500 workers, the factory produced up to 35,000 Transit chassis/cab variant vehicles annually, of which 50% were exported. The Ford Southampton plant closed on 26 July 2013. The very first branch of the DIY chain B&Q was opened in Swaythling in 1969. The shop was owned by Messrs Block and Quayle. Swaythling railway station is on the main line
Western Music Company Western Music Company The Western Music Company (WMC) was a music publishing and retailing firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1930 by Herbert Drost, the company was initially a retail store for sheet music but soon expanded to include records and instruments to its merchandise. The company also operated branches in Winnipeg, Manitoba (1938–56), Toronto, Ontario (1948–55), and Victoria, British Columbia (1945-9 and 1954–73). In 1970, the company was acquired by Leslie Music Supply of Oakville, Ontario. In 1937 WMC began to publish sheet music; much of which was published for use in competitions/festivals and for school