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Episode 29

Jay Blades and the team restore a quirky train set made by a celebrated cartoonist, a nautical ‘ditty box’ and a doll that is a precious memento of a much-loved father.

Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.

Clockwork maestro Steve Fletcher is thrilled to find himself working on a remarkable, quirky train set designed and built by the celebrated cartoonist and inventor Rowland Emmet. Emmet is best known as the brainbox behind all the inventions in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and this train set bears all the hallmarks of those extraordinary contraptions. Now in the ownership of Emmet’s nephew John, the train set hasn’t worked in decades. Steve has his hands full with this one, so he enlists the help of ceramics conservator Kirsten Ramsay. Can this dream team get the train back up and running?

Furniture restorer Will Kirk takes on the challenging repair of a wooden nautical ‘ditty box’ - a box used by sailors to store their most prized possessions. This particular specimen survived a shipwreck that claimed its owner’s life, but the ravages of time have been less kind. The box is coming apart at the seams, the brasswork is badly deteriorating, and the interior compartments are broken and in bits. It’s Will’s job to piece the ditty box back together again - and to solve the mystery of the secret compartment that lies within.

And toy restoration experts Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell carry out a stunning repair job on a much-loved doll called Mary, the only remaining memento owner Barbara has of her father, who gave it to her as a Christmas present way back in 1947.

28 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Robert Pugh

Broadcast

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