The Repair Shop

S06:E51 - Fairy House, Bakelite Radio and Fairground Game

Today in the Repair Shop, Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.First through the workshop doors is Minty Barlow, with a miniature replica house. It had been part of a model village tourist attraction in her home town of Cleethorpes. Her parents saved it when the attraction closed down in the 1970s and re-sited it in their garden. There they created a magical world of fantasy and fairies for Minty and her brother. Young Minty was captivated by the fairy house and would love her daughter to see it in its original, charming condition. She feels having it restored would be a lovely testament to her late parents and the wonderful memories they gave her. Ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay and woodwork expert Will Kirk are delighted to join forces for this one of a kind project. The house needs total renovation if it's to be fit for fairies again and the pair put their all into it. Next to arrive is Luigi Ciaburri, with a vintage Bakelite radio, that has been mute for over 50 years. He's hoping electronics guru Mark Stuckey can spark it back to life. The treasured radio was passed down to Luigi by his Italian father, who emigrated with his wife to Wales to begin a new life and raise their family. It holds huge significance for Luigi, as his family would sit together and listen to it for hours. It helped them all to integrate into life in UK and to learn English. Mark must dismantle the entire workings and recondition or replace each component to get this silent relic up and running again.And master of all things metal, Dom Chinea, takes receipt of a fairground game that promises to 'test your strength.'  The cast iron contraption belongs to Marie Heemsom and brought her late husband such pleasure. He salvaged and lovingly restored it many decades ago but it's now on his knees and will certainly test Dom's know how, if he is to get it back in full working order.