The Repair Shop 255x44 - Episode 44

There is a chance for woodwork expert Will Kirk to showcase hisimpressive carving skills when Wilma from Bristol arrives withher late mother's occasional table. Wilma's mother, Eunice,emigrated to the UK from Jamaica as a young woman in the early1960s with very little to her name. She worked hard her entirelife and raised three daughters as a single mother, instillingin them the importance of education and kindness. The table ismade of dark walnut wood with a veneered top and was Eunice'spride and joy. Wilma remembers it in her childhood home alwayscovered with cloth to protect it but time eventually took itstoll - several pieces of the veneer have lifted off and asection of the decorative moulding around the top has brokenoff. Will carefully carves a replacement piece and comes upwith an ingenious plan to find the perfect colour match for themissing veneered patches.Next to arrive at the barn are fatherand son Stephen and Ollie with a challenge for vintageelectronics expert Mark Stuckey. The 1950s lime green Bakeliteradio originally belonged to Stephen's grandfather and has beenpassed from father to son down the generations. Stephen'sclearest memories of it were when his father Rodney used it inhis workshop. Rodney was an accomplished carpenter and wasforever embarking on ambitious house renovations, includingdigging out a cellar single handedly, with this trusty radiokeeping him company. Ollie, Stephen's son, also remembers theradio in situ in the workshop and would love to use it - that'sif Mark can resuscitate it. Fortunately, Rodney wasn't just atalented joiner but an organised fellow too and he kept theradio's original instructions and service manual which provesextremely helpful in its repair.Finally it's a task for cobblerDean Westmoreland, when he works wonders on a pair of verytired suede shoes full of happy memories. Bev from Nottinghaminherited them from her lovely grandmother, Betsy. Young Bevloved these shoes and every time she'd visit her gran she'd popthem on and march about in them, enjoying the loud clompingsound the heels made. Betsy clearly remembered hergranddaughter's love of them, as they were left specificallyto her when she passed away. They could really do with someTLC, which Dean is only too happy to administer, and Bev isover the moon.