Eight-year-old Henry vacuum superfan gets anniversary edition model

An eight-year-old boy from Melksham, Wiltshire, has become one of the first people to receive a new limited edition Henry vacuum cleaner, released to mark manufacturer Numatic International's 45th anniversary. Ted has developed a passion for the vacuums over the past three years, building a collection of 35 models, the oldest of which dates back to 1989.

He received the special edition machine during a tour of the company's factory in Chard, Somerset, held as part of National Manufacturing Day. Only 1,000 of the anniversary vacuums were produced, and one went straight into Ted's collection.

How the fascination began

Ted's interest in vacuum cleaners began at age five, when his father Matt asked him to wipe down the family's Hetty vacuum to keep him occupied. After learning that his school kept a separate Henry vacuum for each cleaner, Ted began volunteering to help tidy up. The school used this interest to teach life skills, giving Ted his own vacuum as an incentive for good behaviour and completed schoolwork.

His mother, Lisa, said Ted not only uses the vacuums himself but also teaches classmates how to tell different models apart and determine their manufacturing date. Each day, he carries out what the family calls "mess tests" to make sure his vacuums are working properly.

About the manufacturer

Henry vacuums have been produced since 1981, and the factory now makes around one million units a year — roughly one every 30 seconds. The anniversary model features an automated arm that places the letter "y" into the Henry logo, alongside a Union Jack design and the words "Made in the UK". The milestone also coincides with the 130th anniversary of manufacturing body Make UK.

The company recently invested £85m to expand the factory, which employs 1,200 people, though it confirmed a small number of staff had been made redundant after declining offers of alternative roles.