Holding in Company

Gooch & Housego PLC
20 June 2001


TO: CITY EDITORS      20th June, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



                             Gooch & Housego PLC

Gooch & Housego PLC hereby confirms they have been notified today by The Gooch
Charitable Trust (Ilminister) that they have bought 25,000 ordinary shares in
the Company at a price of 238p per share.


The Trust was set up in January 1998 with a donation, by Mrs. H. Virgin, of
300,000 ordinary shares in Gooch & Housego PLC. The Trustees are J Letham and
E Amor, who are independent of the Company, and Mrs H. Virgin and A W Gooch
who are a Director and the Executive Chairman, respectively, of Gooch &
Housego PLC.


The objects of the Trust are to hold the fund and its income for the benefit
of the town of Ilminster in Somerset. In particular the Trust is to preserve
and maintain, for the benefits of the public, the Parish Church of St. Mary's
and to support other local charities.


In accordance with the Trust deed both Mrs H. Virgin and A W Gooch abstained
from the decision to purchase these shares. They do not benefit, or gain, in
any way from this transaction.


Following the purchase The Gooch Charitable Trust (Ilminster) holds 225,000
ordinary shares representing 1.25% of the total issued share capital of Gooch
& Housego PLC.