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Episode 16

Episode 16 of 25

Painting conservator Lucia tackles a crumbling 175-year-old portrait that’s been cut in two, and a pair of baby shoes holding precious memories of wartime heroism are restored.

Kicking things off are Melissa and her mum Hari, who bring in a novelty party piece that’s lost all impact. They’re hoping that Pete Woods can drum up a solution. The portable kit belonged to Hari's adored dad, Alfred. Both Hari and Melissa have memories of Alfred playing the drum kit at family parties and him teaching them to learn how to play. Alfred’s love of music has been passed down to three generations – his daughter Hari, his granddaughter Melissa, and his great-granddaughter Lottie, who is fascinated by her great-grandad's set of drums. Having been played since the 1940s, this travelling kit has been left seriously worse for wear. After enlisting the help of bookbinder Chris Shaw to repair the case, Pete has the daunting task of making not one but two missing pieces. Hari and Melissa are hoping this treasured set can make some noise again so that both the happy memories and the fun can continue.

Next to the barn are Maria Butler and her daughter Selena, with a family heirloom thought to be 175 years old that sadly is in two pieces. The pair are in need of painting conservator Lucia Scalisi’s skills to restore this striking oil painting of their female ancestor. It has been kept in the family since it was painted in around the 1850s, and Selina and Maria have never seen this depiction of their ancestor in its original, whole state. One part of this crumbling painting had been concealed behind the other and was only recently discovered when the family decided to have it reframed for Maria’s mother’s 90th birthday. During the restoration of the piece, Lucia uncovers hidden secrets about the lineage of the family's female line and returns the completed painting to a delighted Maria and Selena.

Teddy bear ladies Julie and Amanda are tackling the next repair, which is of a quirky patchwork hippo, brought in by siblings Millie and George, that belonged to their late mum, Becky. The hippo was well loved by Becky and became a key feature in Millie and George's childhoods too. Becky had always wanted to get the hippo repaired, but she died suddenly in an accident before it could be completed. It’s up to Julie and Amanda to help fix this cuddly animal in danger, which has not only lost its defining features but is falling apart at the seams. With their dad Steve, George and Millie turn up to see if their late mum's hippo has been restored just as she would have wished.

Lastly, Barbara and her granddaughter Giovanna are hoping expert shoe restorer Dean can preserve a pair of baby shoes to keep alive the story of a wartime hero. The shoes were given to Barbara’s father and Giovanna’s great-grandfather Norman by the family of a little girl he rescued whilst serving in the British Army in the Netherlands towards the end of World War II. The shoes were worn by Barbara as a child, and then all her children learnt to walk in them. Dean sets about protecting the history of the tiny shoes, which are in need of a mammoth repair, ready to return them to Barbara and Giovanna in memory of Norman.

Release date:

57 minutes

On TV

Next Wednesday 20:00

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Credits

Role Contributor
Expert Dominic Chinea
Expert Amanda Middleditch
Expert Lucia Scalisi
Expert Chris Shaw
Expert Julie Tatchell
Expert Will Kirk
Expert Dean Westmoreland
Expert Pete Woods
Executive Producer Hannah Lamb
Executive Producer Emma Walsh
Series Producer Shane Normoyle
Director George Vernon

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If you have a treasured possession that needs restoring, please get in touch.