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Episode 34

Episode 34 of 40

Jay Blades and the team restore a leather midwifery bag, a cherished painting and a First World War brooch.

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

First through the barn doors is Sue Lock, with her daughter Hannah. They have brought Sue’s grandmother's leather midwifery bag. They fear the battered old bag is a hopeless case, but Susie Fletcher believes she can nurse it back to life. Sue’s grandmother worked selflessly for decades as a midwife, delivering hundreds of babies during air raids and in the early years for the NHS. She inspired generations of women in her family to seek careers within medicine, and for that Sue and Hannah are very proud.

Next, art conservator Lucia Scalisi has the pleasure meeting Alice Bird from Devon, who has brought in one of her late father’s artworks. Robin Rae was a prolific artist and was still painting into his nineties. The piece, which depicts several figures and is entitled The Storyteller, was painted when Robin was just 21 years of age. Alice was gifted the painting when she was a similar age, and it has followed her throughout her life. However, it incurred extensive damage when it was transported to France, much to Alice’s despair.

The day's final visitors are mother and daughter Cheryl and Dawn Sandford. They have come to meet jeweller Richard Talman, carrying a precious family keepsake that belonged to Cheryl’s beloved nan. The gold brooch holds a picture and a lock of hair from her favourite brother, Billy, whose life was lost serving in the First World War. The brooch is so damaged it can no longer be worn, but Cheryl would love to enjoy it and pass it down to her daughter and granddaughter when the time comes.

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44 minutes

Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Bill Paterson
Expert Suzie Fletcher
Expert Steven Fletcher
Expert Lucia Scalisi
Expert Rich Talman
Executive Producer Hannah Lamb
Series Producer Paula Fasht
Series Producer Tanveer Bari
Production Company Ricochet Ltd

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