This week's The Repair Shop had us weeping at this heartfelt story
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Evenings in are always that little bit sweeter when we know we have a new episode of The Repair Shop to look forward to on BBC One.
With Jay Blades and his team of expert crafters at the helm, the BAFTA Award-winning programme always tugs on our heart strings, as people bring their broken family heirlooms to the team to restore them to their former glory.
There have been some astonishing repairs on the series so far, and this week’s episode was no different.
What happened in tonight's episode of The Repair Shop?
Four incredible repairs featured on tonight’s episode, including a mother’s retirement clock from 1962 that tells a story of women’s rights in Ireland; a daughter’s harp handmade by her father; and a potter’s wheel that belonged to Scottish artist Syd Walker, and which his daughters wished to have restored so they could make their own pots on their dad’s prized possession.
But the story that called for tissues for us was that of lifelong friends Mac and Pete and their rather unusual birthday card.
The birthday card, bought by Pete’s mum for him to give to Mac on his 16th birthday, was in the shape of a 1960s sick bag, with the message: ‘Practical cards is what should be gave, useful and plain-like an' fittin’ to save – so here’s birthday greetin’s on this paper sack, when mine’s due you fill it and send it on back!’
The pair said they have sent the ‘card’ back and forth for every birthday for the last 60 years. With 120 birthday messages documented on the paper bag, you can quite literally look back through history in one glance.
The card is a beautiful snapshot of an enduring friendship, made even more poignant by the fact Pete moved to Australia 28 years ago and the friends have continued to send it thousands of miles twice a year. It’s clearly an important document to the two men, especially as Pete lost his memory in a car accident in 2002 and the birthday card helped to jog his memory.
Paper conservator, Angelina Bakalarou, had her work cut out for her with this delicate job, but she painstakingly used a special Japanese paper made from mulberry bush to repair the small tears and strengthen the edges, while bookbinder Christopher Shaw made them a special envelope to protect the card for many years to come.
When Mac and Pete saw their renewed birthday card – now with even more space to add new messages in the future – the friends were so amazed with Angelina’s work, Pete said: ‘Apart from the writing it’s like the day my mum gave it to me.’
A touching reminder of the importance and power of true friendship.
Where is The Repair Shop filmed?
The Repair Shop is filmed on location at The Weald and Downland Living Museum.
Who is in the cast of The Repair Shop?
Upholsterer Jay Blades presents the series, alongside his dedicated team of skilled craftspeople:
Dominic Chinea, metal worker
Steve Fletcher, lock restorer
Suzie Fletcher, leather worker
Will Kirk, carpenter and cabinet-maker
Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, toy restorers
Kirsten Ramsay, ceramics conservator
Lucia Scalisi, painting conservator
Brenton West, antique photography specialist
Dave Burville, organ builder
Piero Pozella, expert camera restorer
Sonnaz Nooranvary, upholsterer
Jayesh Vaghela, hat expert
Angelina Bakalarou, paper conservator
Dean Westmoreland, expert cobbler
Brenton West, silversmith and antique photography specialist
Watch new episodes of The Repair Shop on BBC One at 8pm on Wednesdays and catch up on the rest of the series on BBC iPlayer.
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