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Episode 18

Jay Blades and the team restore a wall clock with an extraordinary story, a fractured lustre bowl, a semi-acoustic guitar and a well-travelled chair.

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

First into the barn today is a family heirloom lost for over 40 years. Feroz Jafferji has a dilapidated wall clock he hopes horologist Steve Fletcher can bring back to life. Originally from Zanzibar, Feroz, his family and his father’s treasured clock were split up in the revolution of 1964. Returning to Zanzibar 44 years later, a chance encounter led to Feroz being reunited with his family’s precious possession. Now it’s down to Steve to get it ticking and chiming again.

Ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay faces one of her most challenging projects yet when a beautiful but broken bowl is delivered from Cornwall by Charlotte Vellacott and her aunt Mary. The bowl was Charlotte’s mother's most treasured possession. Unfortunately, Charlotte broke the bowl as a child, and it has been banished to a box ever since. Charlotte lost her mother recently, and having the bowl repaired is hugely important to her and her family. But the bowl has a lustre glaze, notoriously difficult to repair and recreate, which will put all Kirsten’s years of experience to the test.

Next, luthier Julyan Wallis must get to grips with a semi-acoustic guitar that has spanned three generations of players from the same family. Pete Rout and his son Tom are putting their faith in Julyan to save the beloved instrument, which has been silent for several years. First played by his father, then passed to Pete, Tom is now next in line and eager to continue the legacy. But sadly the instrument is now a shadow of its former self – a split in the body, missing parts and worn frets are just some of the challenges Jules must overcome to save this much-loved guitar for the next generation.

Finally, furniture restorer Will Kirk has his hands full with an intricate X-shaped folding chair from Syria dating back well over 100 years. Danielle and her partner Gilli from east London bring in this cherished but crumbling chair, which has been in Danielle's family for generations, travelling with them all over the world as they fled war and uncertainty during the early 20th century. Danielle has known the chair her whole life and it holds fond memories of growing up in Morocco with her extended family. But it has suffered one of the worst cases of woodworm Will has ever seen, and all of the 33 individual pieces that make up the chair’s timber frame will need Will’s attention if he is to save it for the future.

57 minutes

Last on

Wed 24 Nov 2021 20:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Bill Paterson
Executive Producer Hannah Lamb
Executive Producer Rob Butterfield
Series Producer Helen Page
Series Producer Tanveer Bari
Production Company Ricochet Limited

Broadcast

Take Part

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