Enter a workshop filled with expert craftspeople, bringing loved pieces of family history and the memories they hold back to life. A heartwarming antidote to throwaway culture.

Season 11 - Episode 36



Sisters Katie and Anna bring a chrome calendar ornament that reminds them of their lovely nanny, Pat. However, it’s fallen foul of the dreaded rust. Fearing its days might be numbered, the sisters are seeking the know-how of metalwork specialist Dom Chinea. The calendar was bought as a souvenir from the Netherlands in the 1960s and gifted to their nanny, Pat. It sat on her windowsill for years and was dutifully flipped over each morning to reveal the correct date and day. During the school holidays, when Katie and Anna went to stay with her, they would take turns each morning to flip it over and watch the new number drop down. It’s a memory that the sisters still hold dear. They’d love it if Dom could tackle the rust that’s fused all its moving parts and bring back its shine.

Next, a charming project for bookbinder Chris Shaw. Denise from London has brought a schoolbook belonging to her 97-year-old mother, Sheila, from her childhood in Trinidad. Sheila came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation, accompanied by her schoolbook, to start a new life. The fragile little picture book was published in the 1930s. It outlines the history and geography of Trinidad and Tobago and was given to every schoolchild on the islands. Sheila treasures the book, as do Denise and the rest of the family, as it provides a tangible link to their family’s roots. However, it’s literally falling to pieces, and Chris must carefully rebuild and preserve it if it is to continue its important purpose within their family.

Finally, a challenge for ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay - her first musical instrument. Barbara from West Sussex delivers a small, clay wind instrument called an ocarina. It belonged to her talented auntie Joan, who Barbara spent a lot of time with growing up. Barbara loved the pure, soft sound the ocarina made and began playing at an early age. Joan was one of a large musical family which would meet regularly to play together, and little Barbara joined them on the ocarina. Barbara has plans to start up the musical family evenings again with the next generation, but the ocarina was damaged years ago and no longer hits the right notes. With just a little trepidation, Kirsten willingly takes on the project.

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skorpion.