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Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring four treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.

Metal worker Dom Chinea takes on the challenge of a battered old barber’s pole that stood proudly outside a London barber’s shop for decades. Harry’s barber shop was opened in London’s Holborn in 1968, and established itself – and Harry – as a local legend, with the iconic pole a permanent fixture until it closed its doors 35 years later. Now Harry’s son Caner has brought the empty metal casing to the barn, hoping Dom can bring it whirring back to life. But lacking not just a motor, but also the iconic red and white pole itself, Dom finds himself with a bigger than expected job on his hands. And it doesn’t help when the repair gets off to the worst possible start.

Fine art conservator Lucia Scalisi takes on the restoration of a significant early work by eminent Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu. The colourful artwork has faded over time, and the 75-year-old varnish is yellowing badly, but it is the tear down the middle of the painting that is in most dire need of repair. Lucia brings all her skills to bear on the fix, and owner Norma can barely believe her eyes when she sees the finished result.

Will Kirk undertakes the dramatic transformation of a wooden writing case that had lain hidden and undiscovered under the eaves of the family attic for several decades. Cracked and charred it may be, but the case is of huge significance to owner Alan Thompson, thanks to the documents he discovered inside it, which quite literally changed his life.

And luthier David Kennett has the challenge of repairing a beautiful, battered and much-loved Portuguese guitar, that was once used to serenade the current owner’s grandmother.