THE man who installed the first commercial television set in Britain has died in York District Hospital, aged 93.

Thomas Albert Julian, of Askham Richard, near York, worked with experimental high- definition television and in 1936 when the BBC started its service from Alexandra Palace he installed the first commercial television in a shop in the Edgeware Road.

He died on March 20, leaving a widow, Jean, who described Thomas as a quiet, modest man. She said the television installation was a "world first".

Born in Leicester, he started work as a trainee with Post Office telephones and later joined GEC at its telephone works in Coventry, working in radio, television and electronics.

He set up the radio service department and special electronic products unit for GEC in London in 1934 and designed and produced three high fidelity radio receivers for the Royal Train - which can still be seen in the National Railway Museum.

During the Second World War he produced communication and sound equipment for RAF aerodromes and he was repairing equipment at RAF Coltishall during the Battle of Britain.

Then he joined the bomb disposal scientists designing bomb location and disposal devices.

He later went on to work on the team designing the RNIB Talking Book For The Blind.

Mrs Julian said: "In his youth he was a keen cyclist and throughout his life a walker and hill climber. Following retirement he travelled the world and the number of countries he did not visit can be counted on one hand."

He was a keen gardener and created the National Heather Collections at Harlow Carr Botanical Gardens.

The Northern Horticultural Society presented him with a citation, medal and honorary membership for his 25 years service as an adviser to the gardens.

Mr Julian also leaves a daughter, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Updated: 12:15 Tuesday, March 27, 2001