Episode 7

First into the barn are Mira Karavadra and her husband Suraj, who bring a 1970s portable record player, radio and tape deck once owned by Mira’s father. Purchased in Uganda in 1972, the device became a lifeline for Mira’s family as they fled Idi Amin’s expulsion of South Asians. Unable to take valuables or money, Mira’s father disguised his remaining cash by buying the music system, which later became central to the family’s gatherings as they rebuilt their lives in Yorkshire. Now silent, corroded and broken, the treasured player is entrusted to electronics expert Mark Stuckey, who must tackle battery corrosion, a missing mains lead, a broken tone arm and a failed transformer to bring the beloved machine back to life.

Next to arrive is Joe Riley from Kent, carrying his grandfather Tom’s signet ring. Originally crafted in 1932 as a wedding gift for Tom’s father, the ring bears the initials 'MC' for Mary Cummings, Joe’s great-grandmother. Tom wore the ring every day, becoming a father figure to Joe after his parents divorced. Now wafer-thin, cracked and too small to wear, the ring has been rejected by jewellers unwilling to risk repairing its hollow construction. Goldsmith Richard Talman takes on the challenge, reinforcing the fragile structure with a custom-made internal shim, carefully soldering and laser-welding the cracked top plate, and finally passing the ring to engraver Sam Marsden, who delicately restores Mary’s original initials before Richard has a chance to visit Joe and pass on some valuable tips on polishing such a precious item.

The third repair belongs to Rachel Twumasi-Corson, who brings her cherished Ghanaian djembe drum. Rachel spent her childhood travelling between London and Accra, where her grandfather, an influential political figure, encouraged her education. The drum, adorned with hand-carved patterns, a lion motif and traditional kente cloth, was bought during a meaningful visit to Elmina Castle. Over years of family use, church events and children’s play, the drum suffered marker-pen scribbles and a severe split in its wooden base. Musical instrument expert Pete Woods must navigate the tension within the dried timber, carefully remove the drum head and craft a precise wooden fillet to stabilise the crack without causing further damage. His repair aims to restore the drum’s sound and significance so that Rachel’s children can grow up with the same musical connection she cherished.

Finally, camera expert Pierro Pozella investigates a 1950s Rolleiflex camera owned by John Cownley’s uncle, royal photographer Jack Barker. Jack, born in 1914, was the photographer responsible for the iconic image of the royal family on a picnic blanket at Balmoral, and the camera reflects the care and pride he took in his craft. The unique top-view design allows photographers to engage naturally with their subjects, but a crucial component has broken away, leaving the camera unusable. Pierro must restore precision placement and structural integrity to ensure the camera can once again capture images as Jack intended.