A STALWART electronics company is set to hit the road in celebration of an impressive milestone anniversary – and the tour is stopping off in Colchester.

Hughes Electrical, founded in Lowestoft in 1921 by First World War veteran Frank Hughes, is currently commemorating its 100th birthday.

To mark the occasion the company has recreated a 1950’s Bedford van, complete with TVs, washing machine, cooker and a radio from the period.

The retro looking vehicle is now embarking on a tour of the country, visiting a variety of Hughes Electrical stores, including Colchester’s shop in Tollgate West.

Gazette:

The van will pull into the area on September 18 and the event will give members of the public the chance to enter a free competition to win one of 100 prizes.

Everything from televisions and game consoles to computer tablets and a myriad of other electricals will be up for grabs throughout the stop-off.

Robert Hughes, Frank’s grandson, said: “It is interesting to see on Frank’s first business card the address was given as ‘Service House’.

“This shows how important service was to us from the very beginning and is something that has remained constant for those 100 years.

“In the 1950’s we expanded beyond our Lowestoft base and into the growing TV market - by the 1990’s we were one of 22 specialist electrical retail chains in the UK.

“Now we are one of just three - such is the change the industry has seen, fuelled by supermarkets, the internet and rising shop rents and rates.”

“The business is unrecognisable from the one my grandfather founded but our focus on customer service and family ownership has remained constant.”