Bolton online electricals retailer AO makes boy's dreams come true

Arthur Wright, five, is obsessed with Bolton-based online electricals retailer AO’s distinctive green delivery vans. He had his dream come true when he was invited for a guided tour of his local depot. 

Arthur, from Plymouth, was invited to the retailer’s Exeter out base and was given the VIP treatment. Arthur and his mum Caroline were greeted with a picnic and a cake in the shape of an AO van, before he was presented with his very own hi-vis jacket.  

During his visit, Arthur had the chance to sit in one of the 18 tonne trucks and was then taken around the site in a 3.5 tonne van.  

Arthur’s mum Caroline originally got in touch with AO just before Christmas, to try and make his Christmas wish of getting a toy AO delivery van become a reality.

After discovering that the toy became his favourite present and learning that he was local, the team at Exeter knew they had to go one step further.  

Arthur after he unwrapped his AO van on Christmas morning (Image: Caroline Wright)

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Ashley Chesterman, depot manager at AO’s Exeter out base, said: “One of our AO company values is ‘making decisions that make your mum proud’, so when we heard about Arthur, it seemed obvious that we should invite him for a tour and pull out the stops to make it as special a day as possible.  

“To be honest, I think the team and I enjoyed the day just as much as Arthur did! 

“Caroline mentioned that he was struggling to fit in at school, so we sent him home with an AO van cake and some bears to share with his schoolmates.”  

Caroline added: “Arthur’s always loved dressing up and pretending to do different jobs that he sees people doing. Every time he sees one of the AO vans driving around, he always sings ‘AO, Let’s Go’ and asks our smart speaker to play the song.

“He’s obsessed with his toy van and even slept with it on Christmas night, so to be able to go inside one and have a ride was a dream come true. 

“He hasn’t really been enjoying school recently, so it’s amazing to see him so happy. I can’t thank the team at Exeter enough, he hasn’t stopped smiling since the tour!” 

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.