After leaving school at 14, comic legend Tommy Cooper went to work in Hythe as a shipwright but was sent home for a week because he kept interrupting work with his magic tricks.
THE Water Gate Tower near Town Quay, Southampton, was once leased at times during the fifteenth century for the annual rent of one red rose. The lessee was responsible for the maintenance and repair of the tower in times of war, however.
SOUTHAMPTON is the UK's white van capital with more tradesmen per person than anywhere else in the country. The city, which is home to Ford's Transit van factory, has a plumbing business, builder, plasterer, painter and decorator, electrician, roofer, carpenter or locksmith for every 239 residents, according to lwebsite locallife.co.uk.
