The History of V. Delnevo

Victor Delnevo was born in 1919. As a boy he was always interested in radio and how it worked. He was the first person in Oxfordshire to own and use an amateur radio transmitter. At the age of 18 he was called up in to the army in to the Royal Corps of Signals and was trained in Southampton.

He was discharged from the army for medical reasons in 1941 and on returning home set out to repair radio sets.

Fred Delnevo was born in 1923. Like his son Matthew was a bit of a lad. Fred was called up in 1941, into the Red Berets Para Regiment 1St Battalion. Fred was discharged in 1947 and on return home joined Victor in the radio trade.

The company was transformed from repairing and maintaining sets, into retail, selling makes such as Hacker, Roberts, EKO, Bush and HMV.

The business was located in the family home in Corn Street, Witney, where for many years local people from the Town and the surrounding area would come to buy, rent and repair their radio and television sets.

During the 1950’s, 1960’s and even into the 70’s the company had many electricians for service and installations. Many names around the area today will say they had learned their trade at Delnevo’s.

Sadly after many years of illness Victor died in 1985. Vic who for many years had been paralysed and had been wheelchair bound ran the service department. His knowledge and brilliance of electronics were an inspiration to many and gained the respect of family, clients and the industry in general. We are proud that his initial is still the prefix to the company.

Fred has seen many changes over sixty years in the business. Manufactures have come and gone, Kosser, Bush, Thorn, Mitsubishi and Hitachi to name but a few. The Reps over the years have moved around the circuit, just look at Terry Hart and David Pring.

In 1995 we opened a small store in Witney, in the High Street, and today the company is going from strength to strength. We are very positive that the industry is moving in a forward direction reflecting modern lifestyles with new innovations and we are ready to introduce the products that reflect this lifestyle.

For over sixty years our family has been willing to offer new and exiting products to the public and with a new generation we will continue to give the best advice and service.