³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

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

Vintage bike restorer Tim Gunn faces a huge challenge when 80-year-old Peter Swash arrives at the workshop with an ancient penny farthing in tow. The bicycle was barely rideable when he first came across it, but after patching it up with makeshift components, Peter spent a happy childhood riding around the country lanes of Cheshire. Now, 65 years later, Peter’s keen to get back on board – but with no seat post, no saddle, no brakes and wheels that don’t turn, it is going to take all Tim’s expertise and experience to get this rare and marvellous machine back on the road.

Master saddlemaker Suzie Fletcher takes on the repair of a battered leather briefcase with a very proud history. Owner Betty was given it by her parents 65 years ago, to mark the occasion of her qualification as an engineer – according to Betty, the first ever female member of the Institute for Structural Engineers. Armed with her briefcase, Betty blazed a trail for gender equality, and Suzie declares herself greatly honoured to take on the repair.

Art conservator Lucia Scalisi is faced with an extraordinary item, a tiny portrait painted by the celebrated Victorian artist Sarah Biffen, who had no arms and wielded her paintbrush with her mouth. Lucia calls on the services of paper restoration expert Louise Drover to help with the delicate repair.

And Steve Fletcher brings all his expertise to bear on the repair of an old clocking-on clock from the bustling British Rail depot in Crewe. Owner Bob spent 25 years clocking on to his shifts on this very same clock, which holds a great deal of emotional significance for him. But the job takes an unexpected turn for Steve when he discovers the existence of a mystery cog that has no obvious place in the mechanism.