The Repair Shop

S07:E20 - Sporran, Aerograph Compressor, Snowy the Toy Seal

Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.First, a first for the Repair Shop and for leather expert Suzie Fletcher. Tommy Robertson has a very special heirloom that saw his Grandfather through the First World War – a sporran. Part of his grandfather's regimental uniform as a Seaforth Highlander, he was a farrier looking after the regiment's horses. The sporran was lost for many years, until it discovered in a cupboard and returned to pride of place on Tommy's wall, which unfortunately was also very close to an open fire. Now Suzie must use all her skills to clean and preserve the tarnished leather and sooty horse hair.Next the perfect project for metal expert Dominic Chinea - Gill and daughter Miranda have a commercial artist's tool from the mid-twentieth century. The artist in question was Gill's father, and the tool is a rusty foot-powered aerograph compressor – a cherished possession used to power his trusty artist's airbrush. Now Gill and Miranda would love to see it working again, with Gill keen to once again hear the sound of the foot pump which evokes such strong memories of her father at work.The last arrival of the day is Hannah Wallace with a slippery challenge for toy restorers Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell. Snowy is a small once-furry baby seal, and has been Hannah's since she was three years old. Snowy has accompanied Hannah throughout her life including helping her through living with a rare genetic conditions call Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which has had a huge impact on every aspect of Hannah's daily life. Snowy's sterling work has left him looking a little worse for wear, so Hannah's hoping a spell under the care of the Bear Ladies will work wonders for her little friend.