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Episode 11

Episode 11 of 14

Jay Blades and the team restore a pair of speedway racing boots, a 1960s electric organ, a handmade grandfather clock and a diary and writing slate.

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

First to pay a visit to the barn, and put their trust in master cobbler Dean Westmoreland, are Hayley Fellows and her mother Wendy. They have brought in a pair of speedway racing boots that evoke bittersweet memories. The boots belonged to Mike, who they recently lost to cancer. He raced professionally on the speedway circuit in the 1970s, and these electric blue boots were his pride and joy, symbolising his daredevil days. Having them restored was on his bucket list, and the women are determined to honour that final request.

Organ restorer David Burville faces a mammoth task when he takes on a 1960s electric organ. It belonged to Jonny Green’s dad, who performed in several bands over his lifetime and passed on his love of music to his son. The keyboard has been broken for decades, but Jonny's dad could never bear to part with it and always intended to have it fixed up. Each of the 88 keys requires refurbishing and resetting. Fortunately, David is well known for his patience and perseverance, and Mark Stuckey is on hand to mend the dated electrics.

Suzanne Payne is hopeful that horologist Steve Fletcher and wood restorer Will Kirk can help her to complete a true labour of love for three men in her family. She has brought in the beginnings of a grandfather clock that was first embarked upon by her father, who loved tinkering with clocks. He intended to gift the finished clock to Suzanne’s father-in-law, but sadly both men passed away before its completion. The project was then taken on by Suzanne’s husband Ian, who began work on a wooden housing. Tragically, Ian passed away several years ago, and now Suzanne is determined to see the project to fruition as a tribute to the wonderful men who meant the world to her.

And Jasmine Asher brings her grandfather’s diary and writing slate for the attention of Brenton West and expert bookbinder Chris Shaw. Her grandfather was a political activist in India and lived a most interesting life. He documented key family events in a series of diaries between 1936 and 1989, just one of which Jasmine manged to salvage. It’s the only record they have of his writing and is in serious risk of perishing completely, but Chris is confident he can preserve it. Brenton gladly takes on the tarnished, scratched aluminium writing slate, which Jasmine's grandfather would lean on to document his life.

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57 minutes

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Bill Paterson
Expert Will Kirk
Expert David Burville
Expert Christopher Shaw
Expert Steve Fletcher
Expert Dean Westmoreland
Expert Brenton West
Director Rich Merritt
Series Producer Tanveer Bari
Series Producer Paula Fasht
Executive Producer Hannah Lamb
Production Company Ricochet Limited

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