Episode 12

Auctioneer Briony Harford and restorer Lauren Wood travel to Mansfield to help Emma, who is still coming to terms with the sudden loss of her husband, Simon. As she adjusts to life living alone, she has decided to downsize and faces the daunting task of clearing out the home they built together. Emma is surrounded by the extraordinary legacy of Simon’s lifelong passion for collecting, and treasure troves of trinkets fill each corner of every room.

With her eldest daughter, Lucy, by her side, she hopes to honour Simon’s memory by finding new owners who will appreciate the objects he loved the most.

Bee discovers an astonishing mix of collectibles that speak to Simon’s curiosity and eclectic tastes in his much-loved home library, including a vast die-cast aviation collection, a World War II RAF uniform, a beautifully engineered 19th-century barograph, a classic vintage globe and a Montblanc Meisterstück fountain pen. Each item opens a window into what life was like when Simon was around.

Meanwhile, Lauren takes on a series of delicate and technically demanding restorations. From transforming a fire-damaged, late-Victorian oak writing desk to repairing a 19th-century desk tidy and painstakingly rebuilding the intricate mast of a fragile handmade model ship, Lauren works tirelessly to return Simon’s cherished pieces to their former glory.

Every item sold will help Emma take one step closer to fulfilling one of Simon’s final wishes – to take their entire family on a special holiday to Gran Canaria, while also donating to an organ donation charity in his memory.