Installing Aerials for over 78 Years

The company was founded by Thomas Clarke, who started his working life as a decorator on the 20th September 1946. His business operated out of a handcart, purchased for just 18 pounds and 10 shillings. 

Thomas Clarke began as a jack of all trades, offering services including Painting and Decorating, Roof and Gutter Repairs, Window Cleaning, and even lopping down trees and clearing snow. During this period of time, he installed his first ever Aerial, in Tunbridge Wells, on 22nd October 1946.

By April 1948 he had saved up enough money (27 pounds and 10 shillings) to buy a second hand Ford Van. Until this point, his Aerial Rigging services were hand-cart based- so television came to several Tunbridge Wells homes via a pushcart!

In 1953, the Queen’s Coronation was going to be televised, so the demand for televisions, and  aerials, skyrocketed.

Some 15 years later, the business was passed down to Thomas’ son, David Clarke. He registered the company as Thomas Clarke and Son (Southborough) LTD, and chose to officially specialise as Aerial Erectors.

Since the Company began, it has worked with a wide range of clients, including those from the film industry… 

In 1967, we took down aerials for the filming of Half a Sixpence starring Tommy Steel, at the Pantiles.

Our services have also been required during the filming of other films too: Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) in Penshurst, Carrington (1995) in Hartfield, and Pride and Prejudice (2005) in Groombridge. To think, we might have been on the same payroll as Keira Knightly (though definitely not on the same pay grade)!

Andrew Clarke took over the Company, when his Dad, David, retired in 2002. The industry has changed over the years and now he works on his own, still installing and servicing aerial installations in the Tunbridge Wells Area.

So there you have it, a business spanning three generations, which all started with a humble handcart.