The Repair Shop 255x32 - Episode 24

A 100-year-old shipping log charting the bravery of a seafarerduring World War II s given a new lease of life. And a tinytable with rickety legs leaves the barn on a firmerfooting.First into the barn is Abdus with a well-travelledtreasure for the attention of paper expert Angelina Bakalarou.Abdus's father Ansol was a seafarer who rose through the ranksto lead a below-deck team shovelling coal in scorching hottemperatures. The ships on which he worked travelled across theocean, bringing spices, sugar, tea and coffee from India andChina to the UK. During the Second World War, the ships wouldbe bombed by the Germans, but they continued nonetheless. ForAbdus, his grandfather was a hero who changed the fortunes ofhis family through his bravery and sheer hard work. But the logthat records details of his voyages is tattered and torn,leaving Abdus afraid it won't survive. It's a tough task forAngelina, but Abdus is delighted when he returns to the barnto find the document back to full strength.Next, visitor Bethhas brought some items with a special resonance for her to thebarn. Beth's father Peter was a master thatcher who played abig part in reviving a dwindling skill. Sadly, he died whenshe was only 16, so his thatching tools have become hugelyimportant to both Beth and her siblings. Brittle,insect-ravaged and worn, it takes a collaboration betweenleather expert Suzie Fletcher and wood whizz Will Kirk to getthe thatching tools back in full working order in time forBeth's return.The final visitors are mother and daughter Annand Lucy with a tiny metal table that's on its last legs. Thetable was made by Ann's grandfather Joseph over 100 years agofor her mother Dora when she was a little girl. Every night,Dora and her twin siblings would have a cup of cocoa, but Doraalways spilled hers. So Ukrainian-born Joseph made her thelittle table to keep her cup safe. Dora treasured the gift herentire life, a feeling that has been passed on to both herdaughter and granddaughter. Now, knowing they'd like the tableto be robust enough to pass on to the next generation,silversmith Brenton West gets to work on putting thewobbly-legged item on a firmer footing once again.