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Suffolk Farmworker's TV Dreams Spark 800 Love Letters
2 Nov
Summary
- A Suffolk farmworker became famous for owning an early, expensive television.
- He received 800 letters from women after jokingly seeking a wife to watch TV.
- His TV cost £120 in 1937, equivalent to about £7,700 today.
In 1936, when BBC Television launched, owning a set was a rare luxury, comparable to buying a family car. For George Boar, a farmworker in Long Melford, Suffolk, this dream became a reality after he used an inheritance to purchase a television.
His acquisition was so unusual for a rural, working-class individual that it attracted significant press attention. Boar reportedly received 800 letters from women after a newspaper published his desire for a wife to watch television with.
The television itself was a substantial piece of furniture, measuring 126cm high and a metre wide. In 1937, it cost 120 guineas, approximately £7,700 in 2026 values. Additionally, Boar invested £70 (around £4,300 today) for a 60ft mast to ensure reception from London's Alexandra Palace transmitter.
Boar often allowed neighbours to watch his television, and villagers recall the imposing size of the set. He eventually married Beatrice Stent, a housekeeper from London, in April 1939. Despite his limited travel, television allowed Boar to "take part in the exciting life of London," connecting him to distant events like major football matches.
