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Episode 25

Episode 25 of 40

In the Repair Shop today, the team restores a tuba, a metal mantle clock and a Foo dog pot.

Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.

First at the barn is Andy Crook from Cornwall. His hopes for restoring a very special inheritance rests on musical instrument expert Pete Woods. The rather tarnished tuba belonged to his late father, Frank. Both he and Andy played in various brass bands over the years and shared a real love for performing. Andy discovered the tuba in his mother’s loft after decades of believing it was long gone. He dreams of being able to play his beloved dad’s instrument. However, the tuba has been rendered mute from damage caused over 30 years ago – a crucial valve is missing, and a leaking joint makes this fix a tricky one for Pete.

Horologist Steve Fletcher’s skills are really put the test when Kamal from Cheshire arrives with her family’s mantel clock. Her Sikh parents came from India just after the second world war and, although it was a struggle for them to settle in Yorkshire, they made a happy life and Kamal is hugely proud of them. The clock was the beating heart of their household. She clearly remembers the sweet chime and she yearns to hear it once again. After years of being stored in the basement of her childhood home and only recently unearthed, the metal encased clock is in a bad way, but Steve rolls up his sleeves and brings it back to life.

And silversmith Brenton West is intrigued by an Asian curiosity brought in by Tracy Lavery and her daughter Zoe. The bronze pot is in the form of a lion dog with a hinged head and is thought to have been designed for burning incense. It joined Tracey’s family when her grandfather brought it back from his worldly travels and has been passed from mother to daughter ever since. It’s been used as a money pot mainly and has captivated each family member. However, at the ripe old age of at least one hundred, he is desperate for an over haul - his tail has detached, his hinge is broken and he’s cracked in places but fortunately he’s in safe hands with Brenton.

Available now

44 minutes

Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Bill Paterson
Expert Pete Woods
Expert George Woods
Expert Kirsten Ramsay
Expert Steve Fletcher
Expert Brenton West
Executive Producer Hannah Lamb
Series Producer Tanveer Bari
Series Producer Paula Fasht

Broadcasts

  • Fri 5 Nov 2021 16:30
  • Wed 1 Feb 2023 15:45

Take Part

If you have a treasured possession that needs restoring, please get in touch.