The Repair Shop 255x15 - Episode 15

First up in the workshop is a mandriola belonging tointernationally celebrated folk musician Vin Garbutt. Vin's sonTim and family friend Maggie are hoping Julyan Wallis canrestore this piece of musical history so that it can be playedagain. Vin started his career in the 1960s, busking his waythrough Spain, where this instrument played an integral partin developing the strumming method that helped him become aglobally recognised folk artist. After repairing the damagedbodywork, Julyan needs to restring and tune the mandriola torestore its original sound. Tim and Maggie are overjoyed whenthe item is returned to them, unlocking a piece of theirfather and friend's past.Next, expert weaver Sarah has herhands full with two pint-sized pieces of furniture belonging toMamta Rajani. These unique chairs are woven from memories ofMamta's childhood with her sister and parents in Tanzania. Theywere at the centre of family gatherings and outings whenexploring the rich African countryside. After being brought tothe UK following the sad passing of her parents, Mamta needsSarah's skills to repair these childhood treasures so that hergrandchildren can use them, just as she, her sister and herown children did. The chairs pose an interesting challengebecause Sarah must work out how to create new plastic-coveredcane, which the chairs were originally made from. Afterenlisting the help of Dominic Chinea, who creates a new toolespecially for the job, Sarah weaves new life into thesebeloved chairs.Third to walk through the barn doors are Roddyand his mother Anne Lloyd Jones, who are hoping master hatterJayesh Vaghela can restore a precious memento of Anne'shigh-flying husband Trefor. This captain's cap clocked upthousands of miles at the vanguard of domestic aviation beforeits retirement from the skies 40 years ago. Anne met Trefor asa stewardess when he was a young navigator, and both witnessedthe aviation industry transform with the introduction of theBoeing 747, which Trefor captained for 11 years. For Anne,the cap is a reminder of the man who gave her decades of happymarried life, and for Roddy, it symbolises his heroic father.Jayesh has the delicate task of returning it to its formerglory, so that Trefor's memory can live on.Lastly, Linda andher son Matthew Bracey have an exciting repair for pinballextraordinaire Geoffrey Harvey – an American retro raritythat belonged to Linda's husband and Matthew's father, Chris.Known as ‘the Neon Man' and ‘the Godfather of Neon', Chrischanged the face of Soho with his neon artistry signs andbrought his love of Americana into his work. Chris dreamed ofowning an authentic American pinball machine, and afterfinally acquiring this one, he placed it proudly in thestudio, where his family and customers could share in hispassion. Geoff's repair of this mammoth machine involvesmeticulously dismantling every cog and circuit to find out whyit went dark. Linda and Matthew hope that Geoff can light upthis beloved machine to keep Chris's memory alive through thegame he loved.