Lesley Ure – Changes in Gosport

Simon: What are the changes you’ve seen in Gosport then?

So, you think before, we’ve discussed obviously the presence, the obvious presence of serving members, their families, so their families and what they would bring to spending. You know spending in the area, people that have the money to spend. Jobs, lots of people were kept in jobs due to the Naval Establishments.

I mean the whole of Rowner was built to accommodate our Armed Forces. That’s quite incredible. I’m not quite sure when it is, I think it was like the ‘60s I might be wrong. That’s huge.

How many families would have come to this area and you know, now your Armed Forces accommodation, well it’s just pockets in areas, very small pockets. That’s a huge difference isn’t it? The Town on a Saturday for example, it was mobbed. I used to get lost on a Saturday always as a kid.

Simon: Because of just seas of people.

Packed, absolutely packed and there is still a high population in Gosport but it’s changed so much then, so I suppose we’re seeing that in High Streets all over, but there is a definite connection between spending, having that free income to spend.

You know when you have all these Armed Forces accommodation, the rents low and you know they’re having an income.