Purchase of Shares

Gooch & Housego PLC
27 June 2001



27th 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 15,000 ordinary shares in
the Company at a price of 232p 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 240,000
ordinary shares representing 1.33% of the total issued share capital of Gooch
& Housego PLC.