
Episode 14
The Bear Ladies harness their skills to transform a life-sized horse, and a classic chair that holds memories of a daring escape from Paris during World War II is restored.
Kicking things off is a life-sized model horse used as a teaching aid at a riding school for disabled people. Instructor Ena and star pupil Ellen are hoping Hector, who is badly damaged after years of service, can be restored. Hector is on hand for students to practise approaching a horse and tacking up. He is a key part of the school and has been of great value to Ellen in particular, who was born with a condition that affects her hearing and balance. After enlisting Dominic Chinea’s help to build up Hector’s uneven hooves with fibreglass, the Bear Ladies, Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell, mend his mane and missing fur before coming up with a smooth solution to make him look friendlier. Ellen and Ena jump for joy as they are reunited with their transformed, trusty friend.
Next, Mary-Rose and her daughters Lou and Kate bring a chair with a rich history. This classic piece was commandeered from Mary-Rose’s grandparents’ home in Paris during World War II after they made a daring escape to England. After the war, it was returned, badly damaged, to its owners, who reupholstered it themselves before keeping it safely under wraps. Once passed down to Mary-Rose, it was well used and became the favourite seat of her beloved late husband. Upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary strips it back to its wooden frame and uses traditional techniques to restore its strength and comfort. In homage to its history, she covers it in a fabric woven by a Paris-based company. The family are delighted to see their treasured chair given new life.
The third visitor has an unusual clock that intrigues and excites horologist Steve Fletcher. Robin is the proud owner of a chromosphere, a mechanical marvel built by his great-grandfather. Using a grandfather clock mechanism, it rotates a globe that reveals, on a ring around the equator, what time it is anywhere around the world. Or so a newspaper article fixed inside the clock’s stand claims - Robin has never seen it working. While Steve mends the mechanisms to revive its long-lost tick, globe expert Jonathan Wright uses an endoscope to locate the position of the old lead shot inside the globe. He replaces it to ensure it rotates smoothly before meticulously restoring detail to the paper covering. Robin returns and is overjoyed to hear it tock and strike for the very first time.
Finally into the barn are Adam and his mum Trish. Their sights are set on saddle maker Suzie Fletcher restoring a cherished leather darts case that belonged to their late father and husband, Alan. Like his dad, Adam loves the game but is unable to use his treasured case, as the stitching is too worn to hold darts in place. He asks Suzie not to clean away evidence of his dad’s handling on the leather exterior, so a plan is hatched to carefully condition it from the inside instead. A surprise awaits Suzie as the case is taken apart. She replaces the stitching with a linen thread - like it originally had - and adorns the front with embossed initials, which is just how Adam and Trish remember it. When they return, they are transported back to happy times with the family man they adored.
On TV
More episodes
Previous
Next
Clip
-
A life-sized model horse in need of a makeover
Duration: 01:50
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Expert | Amanda Middleditch |
Expert | Julie Tatchell |
Expert | Lucia Scalisi |
Expert | Suzie Fletcher |
Expert | Steve Fletcher |
Expert | Jonathan Wright |
Expert | Dominic Chinea |
Expert | Sonnaz Nooranvary |
Executive Producer | Hannah Lamb |
Executive Producer | Emma Walsh |
Series Producer | Shane Normoyle |
Director | George Vernon |
Broadcasts
- Today 20:00
- Monday 06:50
- Next Tuesday 23:40ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One except Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland HD, Scotland & Scotland HD
- Next Wednesday 00:10ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One Scotland & Scotland HD only
- Next Wednesday 00:40ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One Northern Ireland & Northern Ireland HD only
Take Part
If you have a treasured possession that needs restoring, please get in touch.