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
Richard Cadell Richard Cadell Richard Cadell (born 23 March 1969) is a British entertainment entrepreneur, television producer and host, stage presenter, screenwriter and magician, best known for being the hand of puppet Sooty since 1998. He used to own Brean Leisure Park (with his brother David) in the coastal village of Brean in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset from 2008-2014. and also works as a consultant for TV productions. Cadell in June 2008, (Sooty's 60th Anniversary), Richard bought the licensing rights for the Sooty brand through his new company, Cadells Ltd. As well as touring with a new live show, reusing a script written by