The Repair Shop

S05:E05 - Toy Cannon, Inkwell, St Fiacre Statue

Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.First into the barn is Andrew Denly and wife Sheila from Sussex. They're hoping clock maker Steve Fletcher can fix a vintage boy's toy with big memories attached: An antique firing toy cannon, handed down to Andrew by his grandfather who bought it with his pocket money in 1907. Andrew fondly describes his grandfather as his inspiration and boyhood hero. The little cannon is much treasured but hasn't worked in over 50 years. Steve must use all his ingenuity to get the cannon firing once more. Next in is a Victorian oddity for the attention of leather expert Susie Fletcher. Sisters Pam and Frances are hoping Suzie can revive a novelty inkwell in the shape of a hat. It is a treasured family heirloom as it had huge sentimental value to the sister's mother. After years of vigorous over use, the button mechanism no longer works and it is missing its leather covering. Suzie drafts in sibling Steve Fletcher to help make a missing part, and she discovers a new talent for miniature millinery, as she returns the inkwell to its stylish former glory.Finally ceramics expert Kirstin Ramsey prays for divine intervention trying to rebuild a saintly statue. Caroline Morson and Professor John Northover have come to the barn seeking help resurrecting an important icon that's been a symbol of hope to many: A statue of St Fiacre the patron saint of haemorrhoid victims and gardeners! The statue has been a landmark in the garden of St Mark's Hospital, a centre for the treatment of bowel disease for many years. However, it has been vandalised and is now broken in two. Gifted to the hospital by Caroline's father, renowned pathologist Dr Basil Morson, staff and patients alike are keen to see St Fiacre restored and back on duty. By far one of the biggest projects Kirsten has had on her bench, she must clean and reunite the two large broken halves creating an imperceptible join to breathe new life into this old saint.