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
David Copperfield (1969 film) David Copperfield (1969 film) David Copperfield is a 1969 British American international co-production television film directed by Delbert Mann based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens adapted by Jack Pulman. The film was made in the UK for 20th Century Fox Television with some exteriors filmed in Suffolk. Some interior scenes were filmed at The Swan Hotel in Southwold. The film starred Robin Phillips in the title role and Ralph Richardson as Micawber. Among other well-known actors featured were Richard Attenborough, Laurence Olivier, Susan Hampshire, Cyril Cusack, Wendy Hiller, Edith Evans, Michael Redgrave and Ron Moody.