The Repair Shop

First to arrive in the barn are sisters Julie and Tracy from Gosport, with a well-travelled pachinko machine, originally bought by their father in 1970 when he was on naval duty in Japan. The family were living in Malaysia at the time, and this pinball-style gaming device became a much-loved treasure at the heart of many happy times. Naturally, the pachinko came with the family on their journey back to the UK, but to the sisters' dismay, it has long since fallen silent. Once a symphony of flashing lights and joyously ringing ball bearings, it hasn't worked for over 50 years, and it's down to ‘Pinball' Geoff Harvey to get the machine working again. Geoff approaches the task in his usual irrepressible style, but can he get this vintage beauty to light up and once again play the sounds that Julie and Tracy remember so well?

Next in are brothers Iain and Kirk Russell from Glasgow, with a football made famous by their grandfather, Rangers legend Ian McMillan. This leather match ball was used in the historic Scottish Cup final replay between Rangers and fierce local rivals Celtic back in 1963, a game that Rangers won 3-0. As it was likely to be Ian's last cup final before retiring, his teammate Jim Baxter decided to smuggle the ball off the pitch as a souvenir for Ian. However, failing to fully appreciate the romanticism of this gesture, the Scottish FA demanded the ball back, sparking a media frenzy which lasted until the SFA finally bowed to the pressure and returned the ball to Ian to commemorate his glittering career. Sadly, Ian's young grandsons weren't aware of the ball's storied past, and used it in endless family kickabouts, leaving it deflated and damaged, with Ian's handwritten signature now barely legible. Suzie Fletcher may not be a football aficionado, but her knowledge about leather is unbridled, and together with art conservator Lucia, a real team effort sees them breathe new life back into this precious piece of footballing history.

Peter Moss and his son Alex arrive at the barn with a remarkable artefact that shone a little light during the dark days of the Second World War. Raggle Taggle is a unique magazine created by Peter's father, Jock Moss, and his fellow prisoners of war while they were held captive by the Japanese in the notorious Shirakawa camp in modern-day Taiwan. As bookbinder Chris Shaw examines the fragile, mosquito-net covered volume, Jock's descendants recount how he edited the handwritten and hand-illustrated magazine to lift prisoners' spirits amid brutal conditions. With only one copy shared among 800 men, it became an antidote to despair, and Peter is desperately hoping Chris can restore this precious and historic book for future generations.

Last to arrive is Emma MacLennan from Kent, with her late son Alex's treasured Cretan lyra, a traditional bowed folk instrument at the heart of the Greek island's celebrations and traditions. Alex, whose grandmother was from Crete, immersed himself in the island's culture from childhood, learning the dialect, attending the local festivals, sheep shearing with the local shepherds, and, above all, teaching himself how to play the lyra. Alex treasured the instrument, playing it with passion and no little skill, until motor neurone disease ended his ability to perform. Tragically, Alex passed away at the age of just 31, and the lyra that he left behind holds huge emotional significance for his family. Now, luthier Becky Houghton has the daunting task of restoring the voice to this beautiful but broken piece of family history.

First to arrive in the barn is Dawn Shrives from West Sussex, carrying a remarkable model watermill built by her late father in 1996. Handmade, brick by miniature brick, to mirror the family home, the mill once stood proudly outside the house. But years of exposure to the British weather have left the structure crumbling and fragile, with missing bricks and a broken roof the least of its problems. On the face of it, it's an unlikely job for horologist Steve Fletcher, but having carried out his own successful home renovations in the past, Steve happily turns his many talents to this new challenge. Step by step, he carefully rebuilds the model, preserving the character and craftsmanship that Dawn's father poured into every detail, and adds a working watermill to create a lasting tribute for his proud family.

Steve isn't the only member of the Fletcher family hard at work at the barn. Sharon Pawley and Kelly Bromley-Smith have brought along a much-loved clock that was once the treasured possession of Sharon's dad and Kelly's close friend Roy. Even in his nineties, Roy had a zest and enthusiasm for life, and he and Kelly formed an unlikely cross-generational friendship, spending many adventure-filled days out together. However, since Roy's passing, the clock has fallen silent and its case has become chipped and worn. Steve's son Fred Fletcher teams up with ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay and dial restorer Cindy Welland to return the clock to full working order – restoring not just a timepiece, but a powerful reminder of friendship and shared memories.

Symone Williams has travelled from west London, along with a spectacular but badly damaged Notting Hill Carnival headpiece created by her father, Vernon Fellows Williams. A proud Trinidadian, Vernon was a founding figure of the carnival and leader of the Genesis carnival band. He gave up drumming to focus fully on creating the extraordinary costumes the band wore, of which this headpiece is a prime example. Made from copper, fabric and intricate decorative elements, this once show-stopping item is now dented and crushed, and the materials have become torn over time. It's down to metalworker Brenton West and textile conservator Rebecca Bissonnet to combine their skills and restore this unique and important piece so it can once again take centre stage at the carnival's upcoming 60th-anniversary celebrations.

Arriving from Leicestershire, Steve Humber and his daughter Frankie bring with them a pair of vintage speed skates that helped launch Steve to sporting stardom. This precious pair was originally lent to Steve in 1985 when he took part in – and won – his first long track skating race on the frozen Cambridgeshire Fens. The skates ended up being gifted to him, and Steve went on to enjoy a long career, which included a World Championship bronze medal and selection for the British Olympic team. Frankie has followed in her dad's speed-skating footsteps, and the sport remains a powerful bond between father and daughter, especially following the sad loss of Frankie's mum three years ago. However, now rusted, torn and fragile, the skates need the expertise of master cobbler Dean Westmoreland to give them a second life, and maybe even the chance to glide across fenland ice once more.

First to arrive at the barn is Lisa Power, carrying a fragile but groundbreaking piece of British social history — the very first logbook from Gay Switchboard, founded in 1974. Created at a time when there was no legal protection for gay people in the UK, the book recorded calls from those seeking advice, safety and reassurance. Lisa herself was one of the earliest volunteers, and the logbook represents not just a turning point in the support available to a marginalised community but a lasting reminder of the friends and colleagues she worked alongside. Now reduced to a loose collection of delicate pages, with its spine missing and margins crumbling, the logbook is at risk of being lost forever. Bookbinder Chris Shaw must find a way to reunite the pages without trimming a single word, preserving not just ink on paper but the voices of a community who stood together in the face of hostility.

Next through the doors is Paul Banwell from Gloucestershire, accompanied by his son, Phil – and by the rocking horse that Paul hand-built for his children 55 years ago at the request of his wife, Tini. With Christmas looming, Paul worked tirelessly, finishing the project just in time for the big day, much to the joy of Phil and his sister. The rocking horse later became the centrepiece of the nursery that Tini ran, delighting hundreds of children over three decades, but years of enthusiastic riding have left the wood cracked and warped, and the leather saddle badly worn. It will take the combined skills of woodworker Will Kirk and saddler Suzie Fletcher to repair the splits, restore the paintwork and create a vibrant new saddle — carefully preserving the original beneath — so this family heirloom can carry on giving rides to the next generation.

From Wakefield comes Katherine Crimes, with a beautiful but badly damaged portrait of her grandmother Madge, painted in the 1950s to celebrate her graduation as a qualified nurse. The image captures a proud young woman at the start of her career, but the decades have not been kind, and the passing years have left the paper brittle and torn, with some key fragments completely detached. It's down to paper conservator Angelina to painstakingly stabilise and line the fragile surface before paintings restorer Lucia can begin the delicate task of retouching the missing areas, recreating the artist's soft blended brushwork. Together, they hope to return the portrait to its former radiance — a fitting tribute to a grandmother remembered for her strength, warmth and care.

Lastly, Dennis Ffrench arrives from Staffordshire with a magnificent pair of conga drums that have been the heartbeat of his life since 1986. Bought right at the start of his professional life, the drums accompanied Dennis as he built a career in community theatre, eventually becoming the longest-playing black pantomime dame in the world. However, after decades of performances and workshops, the fibreglass shells are scratched and dented, the chrome tarnished and the skins worn beyond use. Drum restorer Pete Woods must strip the drums back, repair and respray the shells, replace the heads and restore their tone — adding a dazzling finish worthy of the stage — so Dennis can continue to spread rhythm, confidence and joy for years to come.