Main content

Episode 32

Episode 32 of 40

Jay Blades and the team restore a homemade radio used in secret during the Second World War, a set of dinner gongs and a musical carousel.

Jay Blades and the team breathe new life into three cherished heirlooms, reviving wonderful memories along with the items.

First through the barn doors are Emma Brookes and her mum Rosemary, with an incredible tale of wartime resistance. They have brought in Rosemary’s father’s homemade radio, which he used during the Nazi occupation of Jersey during the Second World War. In an attempt to control the flow of information, the Nazis confiscated all of the radios on the island, and anyone caught using one was in serious trouble. Undeterred, Rosemary’s father hid his contraption under the floorboards, removing it each day to listen to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ news. He would then post a news bulletin on the noticeboard at his club. It was his way of defying the Germans and doing his bit for the war effort. The radio is made from an old polish tin, curtain hooks and other bits and pieces he had to hand. Returning it to working order promises to be a tough assignment for electronics expert Mark Stuckey.

Next to arrive is Joanna Carpenter, with a set of dinner gongs that came from her gran’s farmhouse. Joanna remembers playing with them as a child at dinner time and has fond memories of spending time with her grandmother, watching her feeding and milking the cows, making butter and playing the piano. Joanna’s grandmother left her the gongs when she died, but sadly they no longer sound as they once did. Musical instrument expert Pete Woods needs to step up to the plate to revive these charming items.

The day’s final visitor is Chloe Foster from Hampshire, with a musical carousel given to her by her mum. Chloe has cerebral palsy and was in and out of hospital as a child. Her mum bought the carousel to help keep Chloe occupied during long hospital appointments. Chloe would play it over and over, but it’s been about five years since the toy last worked, and one of the horses has completely broken off. Now Chloe is an adult, she is contemplating moving out of the family home and getting her own place, and she would like to be able to put the working carousel out on display.

Available now

43 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Bill Paterson
Expert Mark Stuckey
Expert Pete Woods
Actor Will Kirk
Expert Dominic Chinea
Expert Kirsten Ramsay
Expert David Burville
Executive Producer Alex Raw
Series Producer Rebecca McLaughlin
Director Rich Merritt
Series Producer Tanveer Bari
Production Company Ricochet Limited

Broadcasts

Take Part

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