The Repair Shop 255x34 - Episode 26

The team restores an elegant wooden desk connected to one ofthe 20th century's most important political movements. Susieand her niece Sophia have brought it to be restored. The deskbelonged to Susie's grandmother, Una, a leading figure in thesuffragette movement, along with her husband, Victor, whowas equally passionate about the fight for women's rights. Thedesk is the place where Una wrote letters to her fellowcampaigners, read her correspondence and wrote her diaries.Lucia Scalisi and Will Kirk join forces to bring this historicitem into the 21st century while retaining its history.On acampaign of her own, Kirsten Ramsay is tasked with reviving ashop mannequin that was badly bombed in the Blitz. Themannequin, named Bert, has been a family mascot for Rene fornearly a century. It took pride of place in the window ofRene's father's tailor shop in the East End of London in the1920s, but when the shop was destroyed in the war, Bertsuffered the consequences. Despite his dents and dings, Rene'sdaughter Shelley fell in love with Bert as a teenager when hewas being brought down from the loft. Rene's vivid memories ofBert in the shop window in top hat and tails mean Kirstenenlists the skills of hatter Jayesh Vaghela to get Bert back onhis smartly dressed feet once again.The final visitors to thebarn are Dave and his son Lewis from Glasgow, who are hopingBrenton West can get their sporting memento looking championagain. The trophy belonged to Dave's father, John, who won itwhile swimming a couple of miles in the cold waters of theClyde in 1953 at the age of just 19. In later years, Johnbecame a frogman in the police, so his youthful swimmingsuccess served him well. It's a labour of love for Brenton,who brings the shine back into this symbol of John's fortitudeand strength.