World's youngest colour TV demonstrator

At eight Andrew Hutchings (right) can lay a strong claim to being the world’s youngest colour TV demonstrator and salesman. And he can talk knowledgeably about the subject too, which makes him the envy of all his schoolfriends.

Mr Michael Hutchings, principal of A.E. Hutchings Ltd., who lives in Bay View Road, Northam explained how it all came about. BBC 2 is available in North Devon but all the retailers’ shops in this locality are situated so low down geographically that none can demonstrate colour TV in them. His firm acquired a couple of sets and discovered that they would operate in his home. It was not always possible to send a demonstrator with those prospective customers and this was where Andrew came in.

Andrew is the third generation to be involved with broadcasting reception. With his grandfather it was sound radio, and as Mr Hutchings pointed out, most now in the trade have grown up with black and white TV.

Gazette article 26 April 1968