The Repair Shop (2017–…): Season 10, Episode 4 - Episode #10.4 - full transcript
Jay and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life. First to arrive at the barn are cousins David Williams and Jeffrey Lawrence, with a banjo that has been in their family for over 12...
Welcome to The Repair Shop, where
precious but faded treasures...
Oh, my goodness!
..are restored to
their former glory.
That actually works a treat.
Ah, here we go!
We work on teamwork.
That's what I like to hear.
A dream team of
expert craftspeople...
Yes! That's good!
There we are, look at that!
Hello! Oh, that's amazing!
..using traditional techniques
passed down the generations...
We're using time-honoured skills
to preserve history.
Ancient techniques
often work the best still.
..restore irreplaceable heirlooms...
SHE GASPS
Thank you!
Wow!
..and unlock the stories
that they hold.
Oh, my goodness!
Miracles do happen.
That'll be treasured
in our family forever.
BIRDSONG
Is this going to happen all the
time - you carrying my boxes?
Of course...not!
THEY LAUGH
In The Repair Shop today...
Now, that's good. Looks really good.
..our talented team are working
on some right royal assignments...
Red, white, blue. Red, white, blue.
..in honour of the Queen's
Platinum Jubilee.
The pearlies are a key part
of British culture,
so working on this pearly suit
just seems absolutely perfect
for this occasion.
CHEERING
It's been 70 years since
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned,
and we've been commemorating
the occasion ever since.
To honour her, our experts will be
putting their heritage craft skills
to work on four
very special fixes...
This is the point where
I have to really keep the faith.
..starting with a mission
of national importance.
How are we doing?
Steve, come and see.
Representing Queen and country,
Peter McGowran is here to see
Steve Fletcher.
Amazing. Good to see you.
Thank you.
Likewise. Come on through.
Thank you.
See, Steve, this is what you call
making an effort.
When I tell you to make an effort...
I do tell him!
How come you've got this uniform on?
Well, because I'm a Yeoman Warder
at the Tower of London.
I'm the Chief Yeoman Warder.
I'd known as Beefeaters.
What's the difference? Are they
the same? It's an old nickname.
No-one really knows where
it comes from.
So what have you brought in for us?
Yeah, well, I've bought a lantern.
OK.
It's a special lantern to us,
and there she is.
That's a lantern! Hold on,
let me just take this in a minute.
We've had lanterns here before.
Yeah.
We haven't had a lantern like that!
Well, the lantern is what we use
every night of the year to help
lock down the Tower. To lock two
sets of gates in the Tower.
This is how we see the locks
to put the keys into.
It's coming up to 103 years old.
Phew! I'm stunned.
I'm lost for words.
Same here.
It's lit by a single candle
every night.
I'll march out at 21:53, seven
minutes to ten at night on the dot.
Why seven minutes to ten?
Because it has to be done dead on
ten o'clock. I know it takes me
exactly seven minutes to get to
the base of those stairs...
Escort to the keys, by the centre,
quick march!
We get challenged by a soldier,
"Halt. Who comes there?"
I shout out, "The keys."
He says, "Whose keys?"
I say, "Queen Elizabeth keys."
He then says,
"Pass, Queen Elizabeth keys."
And then we go up on the
Broadwalk stairs,
take my Tudor bonnet off... Yeah.
"God preserve Queen Elizabeth,"
and the bugler sounds the Last Post,
and I'll take this lantern
with the Queen's keys and lock them
up safely for the rest of the night.
It's a massive responsibility
because the crown jewels and...and
there's 20 towers there. Yeah.
It's been there since 1078,
you know, the Tower of London -
so nearly a thousand years -
and we love looking after our...
you know, after our boss -
Her Majesty. What's actually
wrong with it?
This handle's starting to come
off. See a bit of movement.
The rivets are coming out... Yeah.
..there.
Some of the glass is broken there,
so the wind's getting in. OK.
I'm panicking about the candle
being blown out.
All the legs have been smashed
in a bit here. Yeah.
Because it's been broken,
is it still being used now?
We're using it every...
We used it last night.
So she's looked after us
for 103 years. Yeah.
I think it's time that we
looked after her.
Steve, you ready for this one?
Oh, I can't wait to get
my hands on it, actually.
It's a great year to do it as well.
The Platinum Jubilee,
Her Majesty's 70th.
You guys got anything planned?
Going to be busy? Yeah, quite a bit!
Quite a bit! There's a lot of
parades happening and gun salutes.
We're having a street party in the
Tower with residents, so, you know,
we're looking forward to that.
I'm thinking you need it back
as soon as possible, don't you?
If you can, yeah.
CHUCKLING
It's a real honour, I must say,
for us to have this here.
It will definitely get looked after.
Thanks, guys.
All right. We appreciate it.
Thank you.
You take care now. Bye-bye.
Thank you. Bye-bye.
Yeah, that handle's quite loose,
isn't it?
And if you're swinging that...
Oh, that's really heavy!
I've definitely got to fix
all of that to make it secure.
The glass, I can get Matt to come
and have a look at this for us.
Oh, that's a good idea. I'm going
to get it over to my bench.
You're excited, in't you? Look
at you! I am really excited.
You can't wait! Go on, then.
I just love this lantern.
All the history that comes
along with it.
Amazing.
This has just been placed down quite
heavily so many times that the feet
have been pushed in, and that's why
the whole thing is rocking around
like that. I need to work out a way
that I can just hammer
the dents out and stabilise it.
This top is really in quite
a poor way, and it will fail soon.
I think it's probably best if I take
this whole handle-holder off.
I'm going to grind
the top of these rivets off.
WHIRRING
Got to be so careful not to damage
all of this surface around.
Right. Let's see if I can just...
..tap that through now.
Good.
Excellent. Right,
I'll get that over to Matt.
Start thinking about how
I'm going to actually repair this.
Next, some royalty
of a different kind.
Diane Gould and her son,
Terry Martin, are calling upon
the needlework know-how
of Julie and Amanda.
Hello. Hello. How are we doing?
Very well, thank you. All right? Hi.
What have you got in the bag,
first and foremost?
What did you just plonk down?
It was really heavy!
It was, wasn't it?
There are an assortment of pearl
buttons from many years ago.
Original mother of pearl
or oyster shells.
And that's a link to this jacket
here?
Yes. Don't tell me that's a pearly
king and queen jacket. Is it?
It's the start of one, Jay.
My dear old dad, Alfie,
was the Pearly King of St Pancras.
He had a selection of suits
cos usually the Pearly King
sews the suits. Right. Yeah.
He did a lot of work on them,
but this one he didn't manage to
finish before he passed away, sadly.
So, are you a queen?
I'm a queen, yes.
And then we have Terry, who's
going to be the Pearly Prince
of St Pancras. And it's a special
year, isn't it?
Yes, it is. A very special year.
Yeah, yeah.
Our lovely Queen. Platinum, eh?
Yeah, Platinum. Couldn't make it up,
could you?
You've got a street party
planned or anything?
We've got a few events,
there's one hush-hush.
But if we have this done,
then he's going to be wearing that.
Yeah. The pearly king and queens,
what's the history behind it?
It goes back many, many
years to costermongers.
A coster is an old English apple
and a monger being seller. Right.
So, costermonger. Yeah.
Market trader.
There were 28 boroughs in London
at one time... Yeah.
..and each borough elected
a coster king and a coster queen
from the individual market traders.
They would collect, say, farthings,
pennies, for the other costermongers
that traded on their market. Yeah.
So if one of the traders fell
on hard times, this collection
would help them through
a tricky time. OK.
And in order to have a bit of
pizzazz and be noticed, they'd sew
a line of pearl flashes
down the seams of their trousers
and around their battered old
waistcoat.
And so from the coster king
and the coster queen,
they were merging 28 boroughs
the Pearly King and Queen. Right.
My dad lived, breathed and died it,
Jay. Yeah?
He bought two London taxis and he
covered them in pearl buttons.
He was like a bit of a celebrity.
He'd open the doors up,
put Chas & Dave on,
and he'd be out there collecting
for charities.
You know, he was proud that he was
able to carry on the tradition. Mm.
So the buttons that are
on there are his handiwork? Yeah.
This is why it's a bit special
because then, you know, we can carry
it on, pass it on to Terry.
But it needs a bit of TLC, and also
some nice designs to finish off
so when Terry here
puts his whistle on - whistle and
flute, suit... Of course!
..he'll look proper. He'll look
a proper prince. Indeed, yeah.
So what you're saying is you would
like us to decorate it?
Please. Wow. That is quite an
honour, isn't it?
It is, yes, yeah.
You're letting us do it.
So we need some clues cos this
is going to be your jacket. Yeah.
Is there anything particular
that you would like incorporated
into the design? It will always
have "Pearly Prince of St Pancras"
emblazoned on the back, but I was
in the RAF for five years... OK.
..so a reference
to that would be nice.
My grandfather used to play
the spoons,
so some spoons would be good.
Crowns, royalty.
My dad was in the merchant navy.
A reference to that would be nice
as well.
Just some ideas, some inspiration.
OK.
Are we going to be able to sneak
a teddy bear in there somewhere,
do you think? I'll be just delighted
to see what you create.
It's going to be far better
than anything I could ever do,
that's for sure.
It's very exciting!
Well, it sounds like we've got
some work to do,
so thank you
for bringing this in.
Thank you for taking this task
to hand.
Sewing all them buttons on!
All right, don't rub it in!
You take care now. Thank you.
See you soon, bye. Bye-bye, bye.
Bye-bye. Bye.
There you go.
Just sliding out. Great.
We've got a whole jacket...
And trousers! ..to design.
I'm very excited, the fact that
this is so different for us.
Yeah. Let's get these buttons away
because I think we're going to
have to get our notepads out.
OK, let's start drawing.
So what are you going to take
on, then, in your sketches?
Where are we going to start?
Spoons. You can do the RAF symbol.
CHUCKLING
Thank you very much! Good luck.
Thank you.
How are you going to do yours?
You just worry yourself about how
you're going to do yours! OK.
I'm happy with mine.
What have you got? Let's see.
I envisaged this on the back
of the jacket... Yeah.
..and then "Pearly Prince, St
Pancras" and then that underneath,
in the middle. Perfect. I was
thinking of doing crossed spoons.
Right? But then I went off.
That looked a bit daft and I thought
I'd try and have them looking
like they're actually playing.
Oh, OK.
See, I can't work like that. Why?
I don't know.
I have to see buttons on my paper!
THEY LAUGH
It's funny, isn't it? Yeah.
That's why we're a good team.
Absolutely.
I'd better carry on, then.
What's next?
Anchor? OK.
Outside, glassmaster Matt Nickels
tackles the broken panes
in the Tower of London lantern...
That's this side almost done.
..while Steve has come up with
a plan to get it back
on a firmer footing
in time for the Platinum Jubilee.
When Peter brought this in,
he said it wobbles around a lot.
This foot mainly has been pushed
right in, so I'm going to try and
bash that dent back out,
making it stable again.
So I've got this metal rod
that I'm going to pop down there.
I'm going to have to be really
careful because I don't want to hit
it too much because I don't want
to split the brass.
Absolutely perfect.
I'm really pleased.
That's made it really steady.
That's going to make it so much
easier in so many ways.
Even when they're cleaning it,
it's really nice not
to have it rocking around.
This was one of the panels here,
which has a broken piece in it,
so it's going to need replacing.
Now, I've got a really, really
good match for this glass.
All of this is antique,
which is mouth-blown,
so it's not a regular
machine-made glass.
So I'm replacing like-for-like,
and the tint is bang on.
So what I'm doing is I'm cutting
on the inside of the line
that I've drawn.
Right.
OK.
Just offering in the glass now,
just to check that
it kind of looks all right.
That's all nicely in place,
so what I need to do now is solder
that old lead to the new.
Been racking my brains about what to
do with this handle, because
over the years
this has just been wearing away.
The handle has got thinner
and thinner.
Successive people have tried putting
filler pieces of brass tube
in there just to try and repair
it the best way they can.
I need to renew all of this because
I want this to last
hundreds of years more.
So the first thing I'm going to do
is I'm going to take
this handle off.
There we go.
Now I've got the handle out,
I'm going to take out
these little filler pieces.
I'll then turner a tube
that's going to go in there
and that will be much stronger
and less susceptible to wear
as well.
This solder is going into the joint
really nicely now.
It went straight in.
Excellent.
Now I just need to let
that cool down,
get the excess solder off,
reshape everything, polish it,
and then it'll be ready
to fit the handle.
Are you doing anything special
for the Jubilee?
Oh, I haven't thought yet.
You've got to have a street party,
in't ya? Yeah, there could be.
Yeah. I might go to a couple,
I think.
Maybe three. Cake here, cake there!
Cake everywhere! Cake and tea.
That'll be me.
Here to see ceramics queen Kirsten
Ramsay is Helen Ringland
with a precious keepsake
celebrating
the Queen's
great-great-grandmother.
Hello. Hiya.
Hello. Hi!
Now, that's a beautiful plate.
Yeah, we absolutely love it.
This is my Jubilee plate. Wow.
This year we've got
Queen Elizabeth's,
but this is from Queen Victoria's
Golden Jubilee in 1887.
Wow! Whoa! Yeah, long time ago.
Yeah! It was always on my
grandparents' wall, and on the back,
it says,
"Painted by Jonathan Forster."
And my grandfather
was Jonathan Forster-Tate. Yeah.
And it was his namesake, who we
think was his uncle, who painted it
for an exhibition
in Newcastle upon Tyne back in 1887.
How extraordinary!
So he hand-painted this?
He hand-painted this.
I've got two plates, actually.
The other one is slightly larger.
And, from what we know,
he wasn't a painter.
I was going to ask, was he related
to the Potteries
or anything like that? No.
My grandfather's family
were all builders and bricklayers.
I just wish I could tell
you more about Jonathan Forster,
who painted the plate, but my dad's
side of the family
we know very little about. Hmm.
You know, I've tried searching
further back
and just drawing a blank.
I just think somebody who I think
worked with their hands
in the building trade, to be able
to produce something
like that is absolutely fantastic.
We just love them.
And to be honest, these plates
are the only thing
we have of my dad's family.
My mum gave them to me probably
20 years ago when we moved in
to the house we live in now, and
they've been on my dining room walls
ever since. Wow. So they're very,
very precious to us.
So how did the damage get caused?
Oh, my poor mum! My dad was
decorating the sitting room and she
was taking them down so they
wouldn't get covered in paint
and she dropped it and...
Oh, poor woman!
Absolutely devastated her because
she knew how precious it was.
But my dad was just the kindest,
mildest, most lovely man
in the world. Yeah. And he just
said, "Don't worry," you know,
"I'll get a bit of glue."
Which he did,
but it's a pretty unprofessional
job, I have to say.
But my dad died a long, long time
ago. They're all we've got left,
really, of his side of the family.
And they've been broken
for nearly 50 years now. Goodness!
I think he's done an all right job,
though, innit, because it's still
there. It's still there at the
moment. That's all that matters.
You've got the pieces, so that's
a good starting point.
Is Mum still with us? No. She died
just a few months ago, so... Oh.
I know. I'm sorry.
Sorry to hear that.
But she'd be absolutely thrilled
to hear that her cackhandedness
was going to be repaired, so, yeah.
So what's prompted you to try
and get the plate fixed?
We were sitting in our dining
room at Christmas looking up
at the plates, and I said,
"Wouldn't it be fantastic
if we could get that repaired?
"We could have it fixed in time
for Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee."
Amazing. Yeah.
Perfect reason, I think.
Absolutely. Yeah, no problem.
Thank you for bringing this in.
We'll get it back to you in time.
Thank you very much.
All right. Look forward to seeing
you again.
You take care. Bye. Bye. Bye-bye.
Ceramic souvenirs have been a
popular way of marking royal events
for the last three centuries, with
industrialised production methods,
like transfer prints,
producing mass-appeal items.
Being hand-painted,
this plate is particularly special.
It's a really beautifully
painted object.
The most important thing
is to establish
whether this decoration has just
been painted on as some kind of
enamel or whether it's been
placed in a kiln and fired on,
and that would actually fuse
it to the ceramic and would mean
that it would be a lot stronger.
I'm just going to use some acetone.
I've really got to be careful here
because what I don't want to happen
is to remove any of this paint,
and it could easily happen
if I use the wrong method.
That seems stable.
I'm not losing any of the colour,
so I'm guessing
that this has been fired,
which is good.
That'll make my work a lot easier.
I'm going to clean this, now that
I know that I can do so safely,
before I start dismantling
this area.
Busy with their regal needlework,
creating some pearly designs
to commemorate the Jubilee
and beyond - Amanda and Julie.
I have never sewn on so many
buttons, and I know I've got
hundreds more to go, but actually
I'm quite enjoying myself.
For the trouser legs, I'm sticking
to the quite bright white -
what I think of as a traditional
button for a pearly suit.
Di and Terry made reference
to the old style
with flashes of buttons, and this to
me is a bright flash of colour.
This design, it's a family image
which she's asked us to incorporate.
It has three leaves on it
and it represents
faith, hope and love.
And the rippling effect
at the bottom is how the sort of
charity aspect of the pearlies
ripples out into the community,
which I think is rather lovely.
So I hope Di and Terry
like the design.
How are we doing, ladies? OK.
Hiya! Have you made a start yet?
Oh, please!
I'm only joking with you. Cheeky!
Cheeky! I'm only joking.
So that's the trousers.
How's the jacket coming along?
Is it looking...?
I've got the wording
and I've done the anchor, which is
to represent Terry's grandfather,
who was in the merchant navy.
OK, so it sounds like a lot
of work, so how can I help?
I would like you to end this stem.
Right.
I sew a button - I go through,
go through it,
and then, before I finish,
I tie it round. No. No? Whoa!
Well, this is quite different
because... But that makes it secure,
though, doesn't it? Yes. Well, we're
doing the same thing, but you don't
secure it off - you carry on to the
next button
because they're all on a chain.
We took our example from Di's dad.
That's exactly what he did.
He did them on a chain. All right.
We'll keep the tradition
going, then.
Now, inside there, Jay,
is a piece of corkboard.
Keep the corkboard under where
you're sewing and then you won't
stitch the legs together.
I've sewn on many a button, I have.
Good. But not as many as this.
You guys must be dreaming
of buttons now,
cos you're just using so many.
There's a lot to do.
Yeah, we'd better get on with it!
Yeah.
SHE CHUCKLES
The lettering is all now finished.
Now I'm moving on to the RAF symbol,
so I'm just on the bit now where you
have to put the wings in,
which I believe is an eagle.
So I'm changing the colour slightly.
These have all got, like,
a slightly pinky, peachy hue,
which I'm really enjoying.
It does seem really appropriate
to be working on a pearly suit
as it's our Queen's Platinum Jubilee
this year.
The pearlies are a key part of
British culture,
and the pearly ethos, if you like,
really fits in with this
because their whole life is centred
around bringing people together
and community spirit. And so working
on this pearly suit just seems
absolutely perfect for this
occasion.
We're actually putting a little bit
of ourselves onto this garment,
and part of the history
will be part of the Repair Shop.
I mean, that is incredible. It's
going to go on and on for years.
Yeah. I can't wait to see it,
you know, all come together.
But we've still got a long way
to go.
Restoring the lantern that has
secured the Tower of London
for over a century, Steve is
beginning to see the light.
Right.
This is the part that I've been
really looking forward to.
Matt has made a really good job
of repairing these glass panels.
Now I can get the handle on,
which is the crowning glory.
I was just thinking whilst doing
this that this screwdriver
was the first tool I ever
bought in my life,
and I was around about
eight or nine when I bought it.
And I think that was the time
when I actually visited
the Tower of London.
And I would have never
in a million years have thought
that I'd be working on some lamp
from the Tower of London one day
and using the screwdriver.
It's an amazing, amazing thought,
and I feel so proud
to be working on this lamp.
Right, that's all really
firmly screwed on.
Fantastic.
Absolutely marvellous.
I'm really pleased with that.
I'm really, really pleased.
JAY CHUCKLES
What do you reckon?
That is a picture.
The Tower of London is home
to the crown jewels, including
the crown worn by the Queen
at her coronation.
And Chief Beefeater Peter McGowran
is back to collect the lamp
that helps keep them safe
and secure.
How are we doing?
How are you doing, Jay? Steve?
Yeah, good. Hi, Peter.
So how you been? I've been good,
but, er, I've been waiting for
this day.
You've been waiting for this day!
How have you been coping without it?
Well, it hasn't been long,
but I know it's out the Tower
and it hasn't left the Tower
for 103 years, so I've, er...
Wow. ..I've been on my guard!
THEY LAUGH
And it's got some duties to be doing
when it gets back there, hasn't it,
really? Yeah. Be rocking
and rolling this evening.
Trust me. I want it back
where it belongs!
Steve, do you want to do
the honours? Yep.
My God!
JAY CHUCKLES
Well I never.
Look at that top.
Oh, it's solid.
It's not rocking. No.
Oh, yeah. Yeah?
There's no rattling at all,
that's brilliant.
Absolutely brilliant. And Matt
we had fix the glass as well,
just sort it out.
Oh, I'm chuffed to bits.
This is worth showing off.
Yeah. I didn't think
I'd be in shock, but I am.
My goodness! It takes a lot to shock
me, you know, but...
No, that's good. And I like things
shiny, but I've never seen
anything as shiny as this!
It's absolutely amazing.
Thanks, guys. Yeah.
God, absolutely brilliant.
Do you know what? It's been an
absolute privilege.
I had to get it right for the
next so many hundred years.
That's what I want, you know.
I didn't want it to just die
at 103 years and be forgotten about.
Yeah, really chuffed.
Would you do us the honour
in lighting it? Absolutely.
Yeah? Can't wait. OK.
There she goes. That is quality.
I mean, she's looking good,
isn't she? Yeah. Looking good.
Thank you for bringing it in.
It's been a real honour for
everybody taking part in it.
Thanks again. All right.
Really appreciate it.
You take care. Bye-bye now.
See you soon. Bye-bye.
Whoa, look at that, mate.
You're made up, in't ya?
I really am.
It's history there, innit?
It really is.
That's history, man.
I'm really over the moon with it.
Really over the moon.
I just thought the time to do it
was the Platinum Jubilee year
of Her Majesty the Queen. It's for
our history, our traditions.
This is my bit to...to the boss.
CHURCH BELL RINGS
Look at that!
That's brilliant, isn't it?
I know it looks incredibly rusty,
but I just love it.
This rusty but trusty steed belongs
to John Phillips from Somerset,
who's hoping the barn's bike expert,
Tim Gunn, can get it roadworthy
again.
Hello there. Hello.
Welcome to the barn. Thank you.
So this is your very long bike.
It is, yes. It's a...
It's two bikes, actually.
Just cut the front forks.
Oh, I see. Smacked it together.
So what made you come up with the
idea of putting two bikes together?
Well, my wife and I wanted to go
on holiday, and we toyed
with a cycling holiday.
But if you've got two separate
bikes, one person tends to be
far ahead of the other. Tandems
were quite expensive, and I said,
"Well, we'll join two bikes
together."
And then, because it was
Jubilee year, we said,
"Well, we'll paint it red,
white and blue."
It was hand-painted, and the paint
used was tractor paint.
OK. Was it, really? Yes.
It was all painted on with a brush.
Whereabouts were you going
on the bike?
Well, we've got to take it over to
France, me and my wife, Deb.
First time she got on the bike
was five o'clock that morning.
First time ever?! Yes.
Our original destination was Paris,
but there was a huge downpour
most of that summer. And when we got
to Bayeux and it was still raining,
we decided that's where
we're going to stay.
And the locals loved it.
They didn't know why we'd painted
it red, white and blue.
They just saw the tricolour.
Oh, right! Yes.
They were cheering us on!
Your trip to France,
was that the only outing
that this bike has had, or
have you been on other trips?
We haven't because, the year
after, we had our first child.
But we kept the bike.
My wife sadly passed away last year.
Erm, cancer.
How long were you married for?
48 years. Gosh.
But we'd been together 50.
I mean, she was incredibly brave,
and, um, loved her dearly.
And when she died, I then thought,
"Well, we're coming to another
Jubilee year,
"and I'll try and get this sorted."
It is in a sorry state, but it
brings me back a memory of her.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
How do you see it finished?
Like to keep the colours
obviously - red, white and blue.
Would like the rust gone,
if possible. OK.
I don't just want it to be
spruced up and put on a plinth.
Yeah. I want to use it to raise
money for Cancer Research
doing some sponsored rides.
It's also cathartic for me.
It's a process of helping me to
come to terms with her death.
OK. OK. There seems to be a lot of
work to do,
but you like a challenge,
don't you, Tim?
I do love a challenge,
and that certainly is one.
It's a worthy challenge. Well,
thank you, Will. Thank you, Tim.
Thank you. Thank you.
Bye-bye. Bye. See you soon. Bye.
Obviously it's been sitting
around for an awful long time.
There's an awful lot of rust on it,
so the first things first
is to get it all apart.
Tim, I saw you wheeling this
awesome bike over.
I had to come and have a look.
It's brilliant, isn't it?
Look at it! I just would love
your advice
on what to do with the paintwork.
All this can be stripped
and sandblasted, and we can repaint
it in this same colour scheme.
Take lots of pictures, measure bits
and get it exactly the same.
One of the things that John
mentioned was the fact
that he painted it with
tractor paint. OK.
So it'd be quite good to use
or match it as best as we can.
I've got to find some tractor paint,
have I? Yeah, yeah!
Well, if that's what he originally
used, that'd be great
to do it, I think. Fine.
Bits like this, we can even leave
the little brushmark to try and
put back in some of that charm
that is in it now.
OK, brilliant.
As Tim sorts through his pile
of parts, a jubilant Kirsten
has executed some rather
more delicate dismantling.
The old adhesive, whilst it's done
its job really well, it looked quite
unsightly. I'm quite keen to see
these edges,
and try and get them clean.
Fantastic.
That's one piece off.
And there's the second piece.
I'm just trying some acetone
here on the adhesive,
and I can see
that it's going quite jelly-like.
So I'm going to just put
some on the break edge
and then use my scalpel to pick
off the softened adhesive.
Right, I'm ready to bond this now.
And I've got a two-part epoxy resin,
and I tend to just place it
in the middle of the break edge,
because then, when you put the
pieces together, it squashes out
to the edges.
I'm just going to use a bit of tape
and that's just going to hold
this in place.
This is going together very nicely.
And whilst it's always really lovely
to see something back whole again,
I'm going to have to try and hide
these cracks, so there's
still a long way to go.
Now, that is... That's class, innit?
Yeah.
This is a ready-made filler.
What I want to do is just push
the filler down into the cracks,
and trying to get it as smooth
as I can.
If you can get this really flat,
really smooth and perfectly aligned,
you're halfway there to losing
that damage.
I'm going to leave
that to harden now,
and then I'm going to give it
a smooth-over with some sandpaper.
This is the point where
I have to really keep the faith.
You've got a completely flat, smooth
surface which catches the light
and even the thickness of very,
very thinly applied paint shows up.
There is just nowhere to hide.
So I will put one layer on
and then allow that to dry
and smooth it back, and then put
another layer on and just build
them up until these lines gradually
start to disappear.
Patience has also been tested
for Julie and Amanda, having
hand-sewn hundreds of buttons on
the pearly prince's suit.
And amongst the commemorative
Jubilee designs,
Julie's been inspired to add
one special final motif.
I was really keen to get an image
of the barn prominently
on this jacket. I think the barn
is quite an iconic shape.
I've managed to find some beautiful,
quite dark, larger buttons,
which I think are very appropriate
for the walls of the barn.
And I'm thrilled to say I've got
this slightly yellowy-tone smaller
button, which I think will be
perfect for the thatched roof.
Although Amanda and I have managed
to include pretty much
all the symbols on here
that Terry and Di wanted,
we've left plenty of places
for it to be added to
or re-embellished as new things
happen.
And I think it's really exciting
that this jacket is going to be part
of a new history for Terry
and his family.
I've just got to stitch
this last image in place.
Following in the footsteps
of a tradition dating back
to Victorian London, Di's late
father started the suit
but died before he could see
it bestowed
upon the newest Pearly Prince
of St Pancras - Terry.
Wow! Look at you! Oh, look at you!
Welcome back!
You look amazing!
How long did it take you
to cover your suit?
The thing is,
it's still a work-in-progress.
So I add, and I sometimes take off.
So I've had this suit 40 years.
Well, hopefully that's how you'll
feel about this one when you see it.
It's a work-in-progress, isn't it?
You haven't had quite 40
years, have you?
No. Exactly! So, yeah!
But we hope that we've done
you proud.
I'm so excited! Are you?
Just imagining what the design
will look like,
and how it will look on Terry.
So, are you ready to see this?
Yeah. Yeah. Can't wait. OK.
Oh, my goodness!
It's beautiful. It's beautiful.
Wow. Aw! Wow!
Struggling to take it all in,
actually. The detail.
So, on this arm, you've got
the horseshoe.
This is our beautiful barn.
Oh, yeah!
Fabulous!
And then over this side,
you've got your taxi.
Oh, yeah! That's awesome!
Oh, Dad would love that!
Wow. That's so cool! Yep.
And then on the back...
Oh, wow. Oh, my goodness!
You've got your anchor, your RAF
emblem and the year to represent
the Jubilee and the year
that this suit came here.
Wow. It's incredible.
Ladies, it's, like...
a little bit overwhelming,
the amount of effort and work
and love you put into that,
because...
SHE SNIFFLES
..when a pearly, erm, puts
a button on a suit,
we focus on the love and the
intention behind why we do this.
I can see there's been so much
love put into that suit.
Thank you from the bottom
of my heart, and...
Thanks so much. You're welcome.
It's amazing. You're welcome.
It's absolutely amazing.
Terry, I'd love to see it on.
I'm itching to try it on.
I can't wait!
Before Terry puts the old jacket on,
he needs his titfer on his loaf
cos no pearly
is complete without his titfer
and the little neckerchief.
There you go, babe.
So now, as I put this on you,
this is where you become
me pearly prince.
It's kind of a bit
like a coronation.
Look at this! Gis a twirl.
Thank you!
I haven't had a suit before,
so it's my first one.
Wow. It's amazing.
My grandfather started it,
and then you lovely ladies
put in so much work to give it
its character. It's just fantastic.
It means so much.
Just marvellous. Thank you.
It's been an absolute pleasure.
It has. We've loved it. It has.
Absolutely loved it. Thank you.
Take care. Thanks. Bye-bye.
Bye. Bye!
Look at that!
SHE CHUCKLES
Oh, the suit is incredible.
The motifs are just so unique.
I've not seen anything like them
before on a pearly jacket.
So particularly getting the barn in
there, er, and the teddy bear,
it's just so special.
I can't wait to get Terry out
on the streets with me.
And Dad, me old dad, would have
just been so made up.
Incredibly happy, so proud.
The pearly suit may be all set to
hit the streets of London,
but Tim has a long road ahead
on his refurbishment of the tandem
that carried a couple on
a Jubilee tour of France.
I've got the rear wheel apart.
That's the three-speed hub gear.
Actually, it's quite refreshing
to see something that has come off
this tandem that's actually
in good condition.
So I'm probably just going
to service it, and that's
all I'm going to do. The next stage
is to dismantle the front wheel.
I could spend hours and hours
and hours trying to undo each
of these spokes, but actually
I don't need to do that
because I'm replacing them anyway.
These have had their life,
so it's a case of
just cutting each one out.
There we go.
As you can see here, you've got
this lovely, shiny stainless steel
rim underneath the old paint.
These are really good quality rims,
and it will actually polish quite
nicely. Once everything's clean,
it's just a case of rebuilding the
wheels with lovely coloured spokes.
I think it's going to look
absolutely amazing.
I did have some real concerns
when Tim showed me
this bike in pieces. Some of the
rust was really quite bad, and
sending things off to be sandblasted
is always a nerve-racking time for
me! But I've got all of the pieces
of John's tandem sandblasted,
stripped, primed, and I'm very
pleased to say structurally
everything is in good condition.
I've got to be honest, this is one
of the easiest but also most
difficult, challenging paint jobs
I've ever had to do, because I know
how much this paint job
meant to John.
Because of that, I'm going to do my
absolute best to try and recreate
the paint job that he did
all those years ago.
Oh, that is lovely.
This is definitely my first
time using tractor paint!
This paint is kind of designed to be
brushed on, and all those brushmarks
should sort of, like, float down
and should leave you with
a nice, smooth finish.
Right, put the brush down.
Stop fiddling. That's it.
The blue on the bars is done.
I'll put those to one side,
that can dry.
Then I can start on the red.
I've got 40 spokes for you.
40?! 40.
That's the rear wheel.
40 spokes on one wheel?! Yeah.
Goodness me. Yeah.
You want to try building it!
THEY LAUGH
Right, well, I'd better get
painting. Yeah.
Good luck.
I do love some of your old tools,
Tim.
It's an obscure-looking machine.
It's called a geared spoke roller.
It's about 120 years old.
You can't beat the old stuff,
can you? Yeah.
I love using original tools...
Yeah. ..erm, because they have
such soul and history to them,
and you just never know
who's used them before.
Amazing.
I just...
I just love it.
This is a really, really tricky, er,
wheel build.
We've got 40 spokes in the
wheel itself.
It is quite a complicated pattern
because basically it overlaps.
So the next one is a blue spoke
and that goes in
in the opposite way.
Hang on. No, that's wrong.
I've done that wrong already!
So, red, white and blue.
So, er...
This is...
Not getting very far here.
Red, white.
Red, white, blue,
red, white, blue...red.
I really, really love building
bicycle wheels, but this one
is proving to be a real fight.
I'm not even halfway through the
rear wheel and I've got the other
front wheel to do as well.
But now I'm starting to get
the correct pattern,
I think it's going to look
absolutely amazing.
Flexing her Midas touch, Kirsten,
adding some illustrious flourishes
to the plate painted to mark Queen
Victoria's 50 years on the throne.
What I really want to do
is try and recreate
this lovely stippled design.
This stage is really lovely.
This is where I hope that the work
that I've put in up until this point
allows these breaks
to just disappear.
Sometimes random patterns
are almost more difficult
because you don't have anything
in particular to follow.
I guess the thing is not to overdo
this, just to put back what's
required and you have to know
when to stop.
I can't wait to see Helen's
reaction when she sees this,
and it's just about ready
for another Jubilee year.
Oh, that does look nice.
Hello. Hello. Hi, Helen.
Lovely to see you. You all right?
Excited!
THEY CHUCKLE
Why are you excited?
Oh, I just can't wait to see it.
I can just see the outline there,
and I just can't imagine
what it's going to look like
repaired cos I can only
remember it broken. So have you been
chatting about it
since you left it here? Oh, yeah!
Everybody has been chatting
about it.
So, yeah, the family are
really excited. Yeah?
They can't wait to see it. Aw!
Are you going to do the honours?
I can, yeah.
Go on, then. All right, Helen.
I can't believe how excited you get!
Oh, my goodness!
How do you do that?
I just...I just can't see any...
any repairs or cracks any more.
Oh! She's really looking, Jay!
Yeah, she is looking! I mean,
that's...unbelievable!
Oh, you're so clever.
My eyes aren't drawn to the bottom
any more.
I just look right into the middle.
Yeah. Good. That's great.
Oh, that's fabulous.
Thank you so much.
So it's going to go on the wall
with its partner? Yeah. I know
as soon as the family come up
the next time, it's just going
to be gathered around the plate
and having a look at it,
and just reminiscing.
And it's just fabulous that this
year, you know,
the Platinum Jubilee, and this is
for Queen Victoria,
Golden Jubilee. So you guys
could have your own Jubilee party
and people could come
and gaze at it. We could! You could.
I could get all the Victorian
china out and do a little
afternoon tea party.
That sounds wonderful!
I'll wait for the invite.
Top of the list, both of you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Honestly, it really means a lot.
It's been an absolute pleasure.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
All right. You take care now.
Bye-bye.
Thank you.
It was just absolutely incredible.
Just to look at it and see it how it
would be 135 years ago was amazing.
Kirsten has done a fantastic job,
and my mum would just be absolutely
over the moon about it.
And here we are in the Queen's
Platinum Jubilee and it's the year
I've had it fixed,
so it's just like...meant to be!
Flying the flag
for the red, white and blue,
it's finally time for Tim
to rebuild the tandem.
Once you start putting a bike
like this back together again,
you've just got to be methodical
and just take things step by step.
Now that we've got the front forks
in and the front handlebars,
I can now start seeing what this
bike's going to look like
and I think John hopefully
will be really pleased with the way
that it's been refinished.
And I'm really looking forward
to seeing what it rides like.
This home-made tandem hadn't
been ridden since it took a pair
of sweethearts on a Jubilee
jaunt to France in 1977.
How are we doing, Tim? Done? Yeah.
John is back to relive the memory,
and his late wife's sister Sally
has come to share the moment.
Hello. Hello. Hello.
How are we doing?
Good, thank you.
Yes. Nice to meet you. And you.
So, how are you feeling, John?
Mixed. It's a year since my
wife passed away, so... Yeah.
And this means a lot. Yeah. OK.
I want it to be cyclable.
I want it to be roadworthy
because I've commandeered Sally
to, um - provided it's
in good shape - to do a London
to Brighton with me in September.
Wow. This is quite special.
Ready to see it?
I think so.
OK. Come on, then, Tim. OK.
Oh!
Perfect.
My goodness!
That's brilliant. That's amazing.
Crumbs!
SALLY LAUGHS
John, look at the spokes.
Red, white and blue spokes.
Oh, blimey.
I don't know what to say!
When I left it, I wasn't sure
whether some of it was repairable.
I wasn't sure whether the rust
had got through it.
The frame had to be sandblasted,
and then Dom has done a fantastic
paint job. Brilliant.
It's going to be incredible
riding that. You say that now!
I can't wait! I'm looking
forward to it.
So you guys have got a lot
of riding to do.
I think you need a little
test ride, don't you?
I think we do, don't we?
Well, let's go outside and give
it a go. OK. OK.
Come on, then.
I've got the door.
You all right, Jay? Join us.
Come on. Thank you!
Look at this. You been on
a tandem before?
I've never been...and I'm never
going to go on one!
THEY CHUCKLE
DOM: Who's at the front?
JOHN: We don't know yet.
Got to be John, innit?
I tell you who'd be laughing now,
Deb would be laughing now!
Here we go!
When I got back on that tandem,
it did take me back to riding
the bike with Deb when we were
both young
and having a good time in France.
You must be proud, Tim. Eh?
It's looking gorgeous.
Oh, it looks brilliant.
I think my sister would
have been extremely happy.
Well done, well done!
They've done such a fantastic job
that it actually not only looks
amazing, but it was really lovely
to ride as well.
You ready for Brighton, then, yeah?
Not quite, but we'll get there!
A bit more practice, I think.
Good on you.
These guys have worked really hard
on it.
Do you mind if they have a go?
No, no, no. That would be brilliant.
That'd be amazing!
Right, then, Dom. All right?
Come on, then, Tim.
Let's do this. You all right?
Here we go.
OK. Right, ready? One, two, three.
Come on, then!
DOM CHUCKLES
That's it.
THEY APPLAUD
Brilliant, lads, good on ya!
Where are you going?
It looks like you're not going
to get your bike back.
I think they're off to France!
Wow.
Come back!
If you have a treasured possession
that's seen better days, and you
think the team can help,
please get in touch by visiting...
..and join us in The Repair Shop.
precious but faded treasures...
Oh, my goodness!
..are restored to
their former glory.
That actually works a treat.
Ah, here we go!
We work on teamwork.
That's what I like to hear.
A dream team of
expert craftspeople...
Yes! That's good!
There we are, look at that!
Hello! Oh, that's amazing!
..using traditional techniques
passed down the generations...
We're using time-honoured skills
to preserve history.
Ancient techniques
often work the best still.
..restore irreplaceable heirlooms...
SHE GASPS
Thank you!
Wow!
..and unlock the stories
that they hold.
Oh, my goodness!
Miracles do happen.
That'll be treasured
in our family forever.
BIRDSONG
Is this going to happen all the
time - you carrying my boxes?
Of course...not!
THEY LAUGH
In The Repair Shop today...
Now, that's good. Looks really good.
..our talented team are working
on some right royal assignments...
Red, white, blue. Red, white, blue.
..in honour of the Queen's
Platinum Jubilee.
The pearlies are a key part
of British culture,
so working on this pearly suit
just seems absolutely perfect
for this occasion.
CHEERING
It's been 70 years since
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned,
and we've been commemorating
the occasion ever since.
To honour her, our experts will be
putting their heritage craft skills
to work on four
very special fixes...
This is the point where
I have to really keep the faith.
..starting with a mission
of national importance.
How are we doing?
Steve, come and see.
Representing Queen and country,
Peter McGowran is here to see
Steve Fletcher.
Amazing. Good to see you.
Thank you.
Likewise. Come on through.
Thank you.
See, Steve, this is what you call
making an effort.
When I tell you to make an effort...
I do tell him!
How come you've got this uniform on?
Well, because I'm a Yeoman Warder
at the Tower of London.
I'm the Chief Yeoman Warder.
I'd known as Beefeaters.
What's the difference? Are they
the same? It's an old nickname.
No-one really knows where
it comes from.
So what have you brought in for us?
Yeah, well, I've bought a lantern.
OK.
It's a special lantern to us,
and there she is.
That's a lantern! Hold on,
let me just take this in a minute.
We've had lanterns here before.
Yeah.
We haven't had a lantern like that!
Well, the lantern is what we use
every night of the year to help
lock down the Tower. To lock two
sets of gates in the Tower.
This is how we see the locks
to put the keys into.
It's coming up to 103 years old.
Phew! I'm stunned.
I'm lost for words.
Same here.
It's lit by a single candle
every night.
I'll march out at 21:53, seven
minutes to ten at night on the dot.
Why seven minutes to ten?
Because it has to be done dead on
ten o'clock. I know it takes me
exactly seven minutes to get to
the base of those stairs...
Escort to the keys, by the centre,
quick march!
We get challenged by a soldier,
"Halt. Who comes there?"
I shout out, "The keys."
He says, "Whose keys?"
I say, "Queen Elizabeth keys."
He then says,
"Pass, Queen Elizabeth keys."
And then we go up on the
Broadwalk stairs,
take my Tudor bonnet off... Yeah.
"God preserve Queen Elizabeth,"
and the bugler sounds the Last Post,
and I'll take this lantern
with the Queen's keys and lock them
up safely for the rest of the night.
It's a massive responsibility
because the crown jewels and...and
there's 20 towers there. Yeah.
It's been there since 1078,
you know, the Tower of London -
so nearly a thousand years -
and we love looking after our...
you know, after our boss -
Her Majesty. What's actually
wrong with it?
This handle's starting to come
off. See a bit of movement.
The rivets are coming out... Yeah.
..there.
Some of the glass is broken there,
so the wind's getting in. OK.
I'm panicking about the candle
being blown out.
All the legs have been smashed
in a bit here. Yeah.
Because it's been broken,
is it still being used now?
We're using it every...
We used it last night.
So she's looked after us
for 103 years. Yeah.
I think it's time that we
looked after her.
Steve, you ready for this one?
Oh, I can't wait to get
my hands on it, actually.
It's a great year to do it as well.
The Platinum Jubilee,
Her Majesty's 70th.
You guys got anything planned?
Going to be busy? Yeah, quite a bit!
Quite a bit! There's a lot of
parades happening and gun salutes.
We're having a street party in the
Tower with residents, so, you know,
we're looking forward to that.
I'm thinking you need it back
as soon as possible, don't you?
If you can, yeah.
CHUCKLING
It's a real honour, I must say,
for us to have this here.
It will definitely get looked after.
Thanks, guys.
All right. We appreciate it.
Thank you.
You take care now. Bye-bye.
Thank you. Bye-bye.
Yeah, that handle's quite loose,
isn't it?
And if you're swinging that...
Oh, that's really heavy!
I've definitely got to fix
all of that to make it secure.
The glass, I can get Matt to come
and have a look at this for us.
Oh, that's a good idea. I'm going
to get it over to my bench.
You're excited, in't you? Look
at you! I am really excited.
You can't wait! Go on, then.
I just love this lantern.
All the history that comes
along with it.
Amazing.
This has just been placed down quite
heavily so many times that the feet
have been pushed in, and that's why
the whole thing is rocking around
like that. I need to work out a way
that I can just hammer
the dents out and stabilise it.
This top is really in quite
a poor way, and it will fail soon.
I think it's probably best if I take
this whole handle-holder off.
I'm going to grind
the top of these rivets off.
WHIRRING
Got to be so careful not to damage
all of this surface around.
Right. Let's see if I can just...
..tap that through now.
Good.
Excellent. Right,
I'll get that over to Matt.
Start thinking about how
I'm going to actually repair this.
Next, some royalty
of a different kind.
Diane Gould and her son,
Terry Martin, are calling upon
the needlework know-how
of Julie and Amanda.
Hello. Hello. How are we doing?
Very well, thank you. All right? Hi.
What have you got in the bag,
first and foremost?
What did you just plonk down?
It was really heavy!
It was, wasn't it?
There are an assortment of pearl
buttons from many years ago.
Original mother of pearl
or oyster shells.
And that's a link to this jacket
here?
Yes. Don't tell me that's a pearly
king and queen jacket. Is it?
It's the start of one, Jay.
My dear old dad, Alfie,
was the Pearly King of St Pancras.
He had a selection of suits
cos usually the Pearly King
sews the suits. Right. Yeah.
He did a lot of work on them,
but this one he didn't manage to
finish before he passed away, sadly.
So, are you a queen?
I'm a queen, yes.
And then we have Terry, who's
going to be the Pearly Prince
of St Pancras. And it's a special
year, isn't it?
Yes, it is. A very special year.
Yeah, yeah.
Our lovely Queen. Platinum, eh?
Yeah, Platinum. Couldn't make it up,
could you?
You've got a street party
planned or anything?
We've got a few events,
there's one hush-hush.
But if we have this done,
then he's going to be wearing that.
Yeah. The pearly king and queens,
what's the history behind it?
It goes back many, many
years to costermongers.
A coster is an old English apple
and a monger being seller. Right.
So, costermonger. Yeah.
Market trader.
There were 28 boroughs in London
at one time... Yeah.
..and each borough elected
a coster king and a coster queen
from the individual market traders.
They would collect, say, farthings,
pennies, for the other costermongers
that traded on their market. Yeah.
So if one of the traders fell
on hard times, this collection
would help them through
a tricky time. OK.
And in order to have a bit of
pizzazz and be noticed, they'd sew
a line of pearl flashes
down the seams of their trousers
and around their battered old
waistcoat.
And so from the coster king
and the coster queen,
they were merging 28 boroughs
the Pearly King and Queen. Right.
My dad lived, breathed and died it,
Jay. Yeah?
He bought two London taxis and he
covered them in pearl buttons.
He was like a bit of a celebrity.
He'd open the doors up,
put Chas & Dave on,
and he'd be out there collecting
for charities.
You know, he was proud that he was
able to carry on the tradition. Mm.
So the buttons that are
on there are his handiwork? Yeah.
This is why it's a bit special
because then, you know, we can carry
it on, pass it on to Terry.
But it needs a bit of TLC, and also
some nice designs to finish off
so when Terry here
puts his whistle on - whistle and
flute, suit... Of course!
..he'll look proper. He'll look
a proper prince. Indeed, yeah.
So what you're saying is you would
like us to decorate it?
Please. Wow. That is quite an
honour, isn't it?
It is, yes, yeah.
You're letting us do it.
So we need some clues cos this
is going to be your jacket. Yeah.
Is there anything particular
that you would like incorporated
into the design? It will always
have "Pearly Prince of St Pancras"
emblazoned on the back, but I was
in the RAF for five years... OK.
..so a reference
to that would be nice.
My grandfather used to play
the spoons,
so some spoons would be good.
Crowns, royalty.
My dad was in the merchant navy.
A reference to that would be nice
as well.
Just some ideas, some inspiration.
OK.
Are we going to be able to sneak
a teddy bear in there somewhere,
do you think? I'll be just delighted
to see what you create.
It's going to be far better
than anything I could ever do,
that's for sure.
It's very exciting!
Well, it sounds like we've got
some work to do,
so thank you
for bringing this in.
Thank you for taking this task
to hand.
Sewing all them buttons on!
All right, don't rub it in!
You take care now. Thank you.
See you soon, bye. Bye-bye, bye.
Bye-bye. Bye.
There you go.
Just sliding out. Great.
We've got a whole jacket...
And trousers! ..to design.
I'm very excited, the fact that
this is so different for us.
Yeah. Let's get these buttons away
because I think we're going to
have to get our notepads out.
OK, let's start drawing.
So what are you going to take
on, then, in your sketches?
Where are we going to start?
Spoons. You can do the RAF symbol.
CHUCKLING
Thank you very much! Good luck.
Thank you.
How are you going to do yours?
You just worry yourself about how
you're going to do yours! OK.
I'm happy with mine.
What have you got? Let's see.
I envisaged this on the back
of the jacket... Yeah.
..and then "Pearly Prince, St
Pancras" and then that underneath,
in the middle. Perfect. I was
thinking of doing crossed spoons.
Right? But then I went off.
That looked a bit daft and I thought
I'd try and have them looking
like they're actually playing.
Oh, OK.
See, I can't work like that. Why?
I don't know.
I have to see buttons on my paper!
THEY LAUGH
It's funny, isn't it? Yeah.
That's why we're a good team.
Absolutely.
I'd better carry on, then.
What's next?
Anchor? OK.
Outside, glassmaster Matt Nickels
tackles the broken panes
in the Tower of London lantern...
That's this side almost done.
..while Steve has come up with
a plan to get it back
on a firmer footing
in time for the Platinum Jubilee.
When Peter brought this in,
he said it wobbles around a lot.
This foot mainly has been pushed
right in, so I'm going to try and
bash that dent back out,
making it stable again.
So I've got this metal rod
that I'm going to pop down there.
I'm going to have to be really
careful because I don't want to hit
it too much because I don't want
to split the brass.
Absolutely perfect.
I'm really pleased.
That's made it really steady.
That's going to make it so much
easier in so many ways.
Even when they're cleaning it,
it's really nice not
to have it rocking around.
This was one of the panels here,
which has a broken piece in it,
so it's going to need replacing.
Now, I've got a really, really
good match for this glass.
All of this is antique,
which is mouth-blown,
so it's not a regular
machine-made glass.
So I'm replacing like-for-like,
and the tint is bang on.
So what I'm doing is I'm cutting
on the inside of the line
that I've drawn.
Right.
OK.
Just offering in the glass now,
just to check that
it kind of looks all right.
That's all nicely in place,
so what I need to do now is solder
that old lead to the new.
Been racking my brains about what to
do with this handle, because
over the years
this has just been wearing away.
The handle has got thinner
and thinner.
Successive people have tried putting
filler pieces of brass tube
in there just to try and repair
it the best way they can.
I need to renew all of this because
I want this to last
hundreds of years more.
So the first thing I'm going to do
is I'm going to take
this handle off.
There we go.
Now I've got the handle out,
I'm going to take out
these little filler pieces.
I'll then turner a tube
that's going to go in there
and that will be much stronger
and less susceptible to wear
as well.
This solder is going into the joint
really nicely now.
It went straight in.
Excellent.
Now I just need to let
that cool down,
get the excess solder off,
reshape everything, polish it,
and then it'll be ready
to fit the handle.
Are you doing anything special
for the Jubilee?
Oh, I haven't thought yet.
You've got to have a street party,
in't ya? Yeah, there could be.
Yeah. I might go to a couple,
I think.
Maybe three. Cake here, cake there!
Cake everywhere! Cake and tea.
That'll be me.
Here to see ceramics queen Kirsten
Ramsay is Helen Ringland
with a precious keepsake
celebrating
the Queen's
great-great-grandmother.
Hello. Hiya.
Hello. Hi!
Now, that's a beautiful plate.
Yeah, we absolutely love it.
This is my Jubilee plate. Wow.
This year we've got
Queen Elizabeth's,
but this is from Queen Victoria's
Golden Jubilee in 1887.
Wow! Whoa! Yeah, long time ago.
Yeah! It was always on my
grandparents' wall, and on the back,
it says,
"Painted by Jonathan Forster."
And my grandfather
was Jonathan Forster-Tate. Yeah.
And it was his namesake, who we
think was his uncle, who painted it
for an exhibition
in Newcastle upon Tyne back in 1887.
How extraordinary!
So he hand-painted this?
He hand-painted this.
I've got two plates, actually.
The other one is slightly larger.
And, from what we know,
he wasn't a painter.
I was going to ask, was he related
to the Potteries
or anything like that? No.
My grandfather's family
were all builders and bricklayers.
I just wish I could tell
you more about Jonathan Forster,
who painted the plate, but my dad's
side of the family
we know very little about. Hmm.
You know, I've tried searching
further back
and just drawing a blank.
I just think somebody who I think
worked with their hands
in the building trade, to be able
to produce something
like that is absolutely fantastic.
We just love them.
And to be honest, these plates
are the only thing
we have of my dad's family.
My mum gave them to me probably
20 years ago when we moved in
to the house we live in now, and
they've been on my dining room walls
ever since. Wow. So they're very,
very precious to us.
So how did the damage get caused?
Oh, my poor mum! My dad was
decorating the sitting room and she
was taking them down so they
wouldn't get covered in paint
and she dropped it and...
Oh, poor woman!
Absolutely devastated her because
she knew how precious it was.
But my dad was just the kindest,
mildest, most lovely man
in the world. Yeah. And he just
said, "Don't worry," you know,
"I'll get a bit of glue."
Which he did,
but it's a pretty unprofessional
job, I have to say.
But my dad died a long, long time
ago. They're all we've got left,
really, of his side of the family.
And they've been broken
for nearly 50 years now. Goodness!
I think he's done an all right job,
though, innit, because it's still
there. It's still there at the
moment. That's all that matters.
You've got the pieces, so that's
a good starting point.
Is Mum still with us? No. She died
just a few months ago, so... Oh.
I know. I'm sorry.
Sorry to hear that.
But she'd be absolutely thrilled
to hear that her cackhandedness
was going to be repaired, so, yeah.
So what's prompted you to try
and get the plate fixed?
We were sitting in our dining
room at Christmas looking up
at the plates, and I said,
"Wouldn't it be fantastic
if we could get that repaired?
"We could have it fixed in time
for Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee."
Amazing. Yeah.
Perfect reason, I think.
Absolutely. Yeah, no problem.
Thank you for bringing this in.
We'll get it back to you in time.
Thank you very much.
All right. Look forward to seeing
you again.
You take care. Bye. Bye. Bye-bye.
Ceramic souvenirs have been a
popular way of marking royal events
for the last three centuries, with
industrialised production methods,
like transfer prints,
producing mass-appeal items.
Being hand-painted,
this plate is particularly special.
It's a really beautifully
painted object.
The most important thing
is to establish
whether this decoration has just
been painted on as some kind of
enamel or whether it's been
placed in a kiln and fired on,
and that would actually fuse
it to the ceramic and would mean
that it would be a lot stronger.
I'm just going to use some acetone.
I've really got to be careful here
because what I don't want to happen
is to remove any of this paint,
and it could easily happen
if I use the wrong method.
That seems stable.
I'm not losing any of the colour,
so I'm guessing
that this has been fired,
which is good.
That'll make my work a lot easier.
I'm going to clean this, now that
I know that I can do so safely,
before I start dismantling
this area.
Busy with their regal needlework,
creating some pearly designs
to commemorate the Jubilee
and beyond - Amanda and Julie.
I have never sewn on so many
buttons, and I know I've got
hundreds more to go, but actually
I'm quite enjoying myself.
For the trouser legs, I'm sticking
to the quite bright white -
what I think of as a traditional
button for a pearly suit.
Di and Terry made reference
to the old style
with flashes of buttons, and this to
me is a bright flash of colour.
This design, it's a family image
which she's asked us to incorporate.
It has three leaves on it
and it represents
faith, hope and love.
And the rippling effect
at the bottom is how the sort of
charity aspect of the pearlies
ripples out into the community,
which I think is rather lovely.
So I hope Di and Terry
like the design.
How are we doing, ladies? OK.
Hiya! Have you made a start yet?
Oh, please!
I'm only joking with you. Cheeky!
Cheeky! I'm only joking.
So that's the trousers.
How's the jacket coming along?
Is it looking...?
I've got the wording
and I've done the anchor, which is
to represent Terry's grandfather,
who was in the merchant navy.
OK, so it sounds like a lot
of work, so how can I help?
I would like you to end this stem.
Right.
I sew a button - I go through,
go through it,
and then, before I finish,
I tie it round. No. No? Whoa!
Well, this is quite different
because... But that makes it secure,
though, doesn't it? Yes. Well, we're
doing the same thing, but you don't
secure it off - you carry on to the
next button
because they're all on a chain.
We took our example from Di's dad.
That's exactly what he did.
He did them on a chain. All right.
We'll keep the tradition
going, then.
Now, inside there, Jay,
is a piece of corkboard.
Keep the corkboard under where
you're sewing and then you won't
stitch the legs together.
I've sewn on many a button, I have.
Good. But not as many as this.
You guys must be dreaming
of buttons now,
cos you're just using so many.
There's a lot to do.
Yeah, we'd better get on with it!
Yeah.
SHE CHUCKLES
The lettering is all now finished.
Now I'm moving on to the RAF symbol,
so I'm just on the bit now where you
have to put the wings in,
which I believe is an eagle.
So I'm changing the colour slightly.
These have all got, like,
a slightly pinky, peachy hue,
which I'm really enjoying.
It does seem really appropriate
to be working on a pearly suit
as it's our Queen's Platinum Jubilee
this year.
The pearlies are a key part of
British culture,
and the pearly ethos, if you like,
really fits in with this
because their whole life is centred
around bringing people together
and community spirit. And so working
on this pearly suit just seems
absolutely perfect for this
occasion.
We're actually putting a little bit
of ourselves onto this garment,
and part of the history
will be part of the Repair Shop.
I mean, that is incredible. It's
going to go on and on for years.
Yeah. I can't wait to see it,
you know, all come together.
But we've still got a long way
to go.
Restoring the lantern that has
secured the Tower of London
for over a century, Steve is
beginning to see the light.
Right.
This is the part that I've been
really looking forward to.
Matt has made a really good job
of repairing these glass panels.
Now I can get the handle on,
which is the crowning glory.
I was just thinking whilst doing
this that this screwdriver
was the first tool I ever
bought in my life,
and I was around about
eight or nine when I bought it.
And I think that was the time
when I actually visited
the Tower of London.
And I would have never
in a million years have thought
that I'd be working on some lamp
from the Tower of London one day
and using the screwdriver.
It's an amazing, amazing thought,
and I feel so proud
to be working on this lamp.
Right, that's all really
firmly screwed on.
Fantastic.
Absolutely marvellous.
I'm really pleased with that.
I'm really, really pleased.
JAY CHUCKLES
What do you reckon?
That is a picture.
The Tower of London is home
to the crown jewels, including
the crown worn by the Queen
at her coronation.
And Chief Beefeater Peter McGowran
is back to collect the lamp
that helps keep them safe
and secure.
How are we doing?
How are you doing, Jay? Steve?
Yeah, good. Hi, Peter.
So how you been? I've been good,
but, er, I've been waiting for
this day.
You've been waiting for this day!
How have you been coping without it?
Well, it hasn't been long,
but I know it's out the Tower
and it hasn't left the Tower
for 103 years, so I've, er...
Wow. ..I've been on my guard!
THEY LAUGH
And it's got some duties to be doing
when it gets back there, hasn't it,
really? Yeah. Be rocking
and rolling this evening.
Trust me. I want it back
where it belongs!
Steve, do you want to do
the honours? Yep.
My God!
JAY CHUCKLES
Well I never.
Look at that top.
Oh, it's solid.
It's not rocking. No.
Oh, yeah. Yeah?
There's no rattling at all,
that's brilliant.
Absolutely brilliant. And Matt
we had fix the glass as well,
just sort it out.
Oh, I'm chuffed to bits.
This is worth showing off.
Yeah. I didn't think
I'd be in shock, but I am.
My goodness! It takes a lot to shock
me, you know, but...
No, that's good. And I like things
shiny, but I've never seen
anything as shiny as this!
It's absolutely amazing.
Thanks, guys. Yeah.
God, absolutely brilliant.
Do you know what? It's been an
absolute privilege.
I had to get it right for the
next so many hundred years.
That's what I want, you know.
I didn't want it to just die
at 103 years and be forgotten about.
Yeah, really chuffed.
Would you do us the honour
in lighting it? Absolutely.
Yeah? Can't wait. OK.
There she goes. That is quality.
I mean, she's looking good,
isn't she? Yeah. Looking good.
Thank you for bringing it in.
It's been a real honour for
everybody taking part in it.
Thanks again. All right.
Really appreciate it.
You take care. Bye-bye now.
See you soon. Bye-bye.
Whoa, look at that, mate.
You're made up, in't ya?
I really am.
It's history there, innit?
It really is.
That's history, man.
I'm really over the moon with it.
Really over the moon.
I just thought the time to do it
was the Platinum Jubilee year
of Her Majesty the Queen. It's for
our history, our traditions.
This is my bit to...to the boss.
CHURCH BELL RINGS
Look at that!
That's brilliant, isn't it?
I know it looks incredibly rusty,
but I just love it.
This rusty but trusty steed belongs
to John Phillips from Somerset,
who's hoping the barn's bike expert,
Tim Gunn, can get it roadworthy
again.
Hello there. Hello.
Welcome to the barn. Thank you.
So this is your very long bike.
It is, yes. It's a...
It's two bikes, actually.
Just cut the front forks.
Oh, I see. Smacked it together.
So what made you come up with the
idea of putting two bikes together?
Well, my wife and I wanted to go
on holiday, and we toyed
with a cycling holiday.
But if you've got two separate
bikes, one person tends to be
far ahead of the other. Tandems
were quite expensive, and I said,
"Well, we'll join two bikes
together."
And then, because it was
Jubilee year, we said,
"Well, we'll paint it red,
white and blue."
It was hand-painted, and the paint
used was tractor paint.
OK. Was it, really? Yes.
It was all painted on with a brush.
Whereabouts were you going
on the bike?
Well, we've got to take it over to
France, me and my wife, Deb.
First time she got on the bike
was five o'clock that morning.
First time ever?! Yes.
Our original destination was Paris,
but there was a huge downpour
most of that summer. And when we got
to Bayeux and it was still raining,
we decided that's where
we're going to stay.
And the locals loved it.
They didn't know why we'd painted
it red, white and blue.
They just saw the tricolour.
Oh, right! Yes.
They were cheering us on!
Your trip to France,
was that the only outing
that this bike has had, or
have you been on other trips?
We haven't because, the year
after, we had our first child.
But we kept the bike.
My wife sadly passed away last year.
Erm, cancer.
How long were you married for?
48 years. Gosh.
But we'd been together 50.
I mean, she was incredibly brave,
and, um, loved her dearly.
And when she died, I then thought,
"Well, we're coming to another
Jubilee year,
"and I'll try and get this sorted."
It is in a sorry state, but it
brings me back a memory of her.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
How do you see it finished?
Like to keep the colours
obviously - red, white and blue.
Would like the rust gone,
if possible. OK.
I don't just want it to be
spruced up and put on a plinth.
Yeah. I want to use it to raise
money for Cancer Research
doing some sponsored rides.
It's also cathartic for me.
It's a process of helping me to
come to terms with her death.
OK. OK. There seems to be a lot of
work to do,
but you like a challenge,
don't you, Tim?
I do love a challenge,
and that certainly is one.
It's a worthy challenge. Well,
thank you, Will. Thank you, Tim.
Thank you. Thank you.
Bye-bye. Bye. See you soon. Bye.
Obviously it's been sitting
around for an awful long time.
There's an awful lot of rust on it,
so the first things first
is to get it all apart.
Tim, I saw you wheeling this
awesome bike over.
I had to come and have a look.
It's brilliant, isn't it?
Look at it! I just would love
your advice
on what to do with the paintwork.
All this can be stripped
and sandblasted, and we can repaint
it in this same colour scheme.
Take lots of pictures, measure bits
and get it exactly the same.
One of the things that John
mentioned was the fact
that he painted it with
tractor paint. OK.
So it'd be quite good to use
or match it as best as we can.
I've got to find some tractor paint,
have I? Yeah, yeah!
Well, if that's what he originally
used, that'd be great
to do it, I think. Fine.
Bits like this, we can even leave
the little brushmark to try and
put back in some of that charm
that is in it now.
OK, brilliant.
As Tim sorts through his pile
of parts, a jubilant Kirsten
has executed some rather
more delicate dismantling.
The old adhesive, whilst it's done
its job really well, it looked quite
unsightly. I'm quite keen to see
these edges,
and try and get them clean.
Fantastic.
That's one piece off.
And there's the second piece.
I'm just trying some acetone
here on the adhesive,
and I can see
that it's going quite jelly-like.
So I'm going to just put
some on the break edge
and then use my scalpel to pick
off the softened adhesive.
Right, I'm ready to bond this now.
And I've got a two-part epoxy resin,
and I tend to just place it
in the middle of the break edge,
because then, when you put the
pieces together, it squashes out
to the edges.
I'm just going to use a bit of tape
and that's just going to hold
this in place.
This is going together very nicely.
And whilst it's always really lovely
to see something back whole again,
I'm going to have to try and hide
these cracks, so there's
still a long way to go.
Now, that is... That's class, innit?
Yeah.
This is a ready-made filler.
What I want to do is just push
the filler down into the cracks,
and trying to get it as smooth
as I can.
If you can get this really flat,
really smooth and perfectly aligned,
you're halfway there to losing
that damage.
I'm going to leave
that to harden now,
and then I'm going to give it
a smooth-over with some sandpaper.
This is the point where
I have to really keep the faith.
You've got a completely flat, smooth
surface which catches the light
and even the thickness of very,
very thinly applied paint shows up.
There is just nowhere to hide.
So I will put one layer on
and then allow that to dry
and smooth it back, and then put
another layer on and just build
them up until these lines gradually
start to disappear.
Patience has also been tested
for Julie and Amanda, having
hand-sewn hundreds of buttons on
the pearly prince's suit.
And amongst the commemorative
Jubilee designs,
Julie's been inspired to add
one special final motif.
I was really keen to get an image
of the barn prominently
on this jacket. I think the barn
is quite an iconic shape.
I've managed to find some beautiful,
quite dark, larger buttons,
which I think are very appropriate
for the walls of the barn.
And I'm thrilled to say I've got
this slightly yellowy-tone smaller
button, which I think will be
perfect for the thatched roof.
Although Amanda and I have managed
to include pretty much
all the symbols on here
that Terry and Di wanted,
we've left plenty of places
for it to be added to
or re-embellished as new things
happen.
And I think it's really exciting
that this jacket is going to be part
of a new history for Terry
and his family.
I've just got to stitch
this last image in place.
Following in the footsteps
of a tradition dating back
to Victorian London, Di's late
father started the suit
but died before he could see
it bestowed
upon the newest Pearly Prince
of St Pancras - Terry.
Wow! Look at you! Oh, look at you!
Welcome back!
You look amazing!
How long did it take you
to cover your suit?
The thing is,
it's still a work-in-progress.
So I add, and I sometimes take off.
So I've had this suit 40 years.
Well, hopefully that's how you'll
feel about this one when you see it.
It's a work-in-progress, isn't it?
You haven't had quite 40
years, have you?
No. Exactly! So, yeah!
But we hope that we've done
you proud.
I'm so excited! Are you?
Just imagining what the design
will look like,
and how it will look on Terry.
So, are you ready to see this?
Yeah. Yeah. Can't wait. OK.
Oh, my goodness!
It's beautiful. It's beautiful.
Wow. Aw! Wow!
Struggling to take it all in,
actually. The detail.
So, on this arm, you've got
the horseshoe.
This is our beautiful barn.
Oh, yeah!
Fabulous!
And then over this side,
you've got your taxi.
Oh, yeah! That's awesome!
Oh, Dad would love that!
Wow. That's so cool! Yep.
And then on the back...
Oh, wow. Oh, my goodness!
You've got your anchor, your RAF
emblem and the year to represent
the Jubilee and the year
that this suit came here.
Wow. It's incredible.
Ladies, it's, like...
a little bit overwhelming,
the amount of effort and work
and love you put into that,
because...
SHE SNIFFLES
..when a pearly, erm, puts
a button on a suit,
we focus on the love and the
intention behind why we do this.
I can see there's been so much
love put into that suit.
Thank you from the bottom
of my heart, and...
Thanks so much. You're welcome.
It's amazing. You're welcome.
It's absolutely amazing.
Terry, I'd love to see it on.
I'm itching to try it on.
I can't wait!
Before Terry puts the old jacket on,
he needs his titfer on his loaf
cos no pearly
is complete without his titfer
and the little neckerchief.
There you go, babe.
So now, as I put this on you,
this is where you become
me pearly prince.
It's kind of a bit
like a coronation.
Look at this! Gis a twirl.
Thank you!
I haven't had a suit before,
so it's my first one.
Wow. It's amazing.
My grandfather started it,
and then you lovely ladies
put in so much work to give it
its character. It's just fantastic.
It means so much.
Just marvellous. Thank you.
It's been an absolute pleasure.
It has. We've loved it. It has.
Absolutely loved it. Thank you.
Take care. Thanks. Bye-bye.
Bye. Bye!
Look at that!
SHE CHUCKLES
Oh, the suit is incredible.
The motifs are just so unique.
I've not seen anything like them
before on a pearly jacket.
So particularly getting the barn in
there, er, and the teddy bear,
it's just so special.
I can't wait to get Terry out
on the streets with me.
And Dad, me old dad, would have
just been so made up.
Incredibly happy, so proud.
The pearly suit may be all set to
hit the streets of London,
but Tim has a long road ahead
on his refurbishment of the tandem
that carried a couple on
a Jubilee tour of France.
I've got the rear wheel apart.
That's the three-speed hub gear.
Actually, it's quite refreshing
to see something that has come off
this tandem that's actually
in good condition.
So I'm probably just going
to service it, and that's
all I'm going to do. The next stage
is to dismantle the front wheel.
I could spend hours and hours
and hours trying to undo each
of these spokes, but actually
I don't need to do that
because I'm replacing them anyway.
These have had their life,
so it's a case of
just cutting each one out.
There we go.
As you can see here, you've got
this lovely, shiny stainless steel
rim underneath the old paint.
These are really good quality rims,
and it will actually polish quite
nicely. Once everything's clean,
it's just a case of rebuilding the
wheels with lovely coloured spokes.
I think it's going to look
absolutely amazing.
I did have some real concerns
when Tim showed me
this bike in pieces. Some of the
rust was really quite bad, and
sending things off to be sandblasted
is always a nerve-racking time for
me! But I've got all of the pieces
of John's tandem sandblasted,
stripped, primed, and I'm very
pleased to say structurally
everything is in good condition.
I've got to be honest, this is one
of the easiest but also most
difficult, challenging paint jobs
I've ever had to do, because I know
how much this paint job
meant to John.
Because of that, I'm going to do my
absolute best to try and recreate
the paint job that he did
all those years ago.
Oh, that is lovely.
This is definitely my first
time using tractor paint!
This paint is kind of designed to be
brushed on, and all those brushmarks
should sort of, like, float down
and should leave you with
a nice, smooth finish.
Right, put the brush down.
Stop fiddling. That's it.
The blue on the bars is done.
I'll put those to one side,
that can dry.
Then I can start on the red.
I've got 40 spokes for you.
40?! 40.
That's the rear wheel.
40 spokes on one wheel?! Yeah.
Goodness me. Yeah.
You want to try building it!
THEY LAUGH
Right, well, I'd better get
painting. Yeah.
Good luck.
I do love some of your old tools,
Tim.
It's an obscure-looking machine.
It's called a geared spoke roller.
It's about 120 years old.
You can't beat the old stuff,
can you? Yeah.
I love using original tools...
Yeah. ..erm, because they have
such soul and history to them,
and you just never know
who's used them before.
Amazing.
I just...
I just love it.
This is a really, really tricky, er,
wheel build.
We've got 40 spokes in the
wheel itself.
It is quite a complicated pattern
because basically it overlaps.
So the next one is a blue spoke
and that goes in
in the opposite way.
Hang on. No, that's wrong.
I've done that wrong already!
So, red, white and blue.
So, er...
This is...
Not getting very far here.
Red, white.
Red, white, blue,
red, white, blue...red.
I really, really love building
bicycle wheels, but this one
is proving to be a real fight.
I'm not even halfway through the
rear wheel and I've got the other
front wheel to do as well.
But now I'm starting to get
the correct pattern,
I think it's going to look
absolutely amazing.
Flexing her Midas touch, Kirsten,
adding some illustrious flourishes
to the plate painted to mark Queen
Victoria's 50 years on the throne.
What I really want to do
is try and recreate
this lovely stippled design.
This stage is really lovely.
This is where I hope that the work
that I've put in up until this point
allows these breaks
to just disappear.
Sometimes random patterns
are almost more difficult
because you don't have anything
in particular to follow.
I guess the thing is not to overdo
this, just to put back what's
required and you have to know
when to stop.
I can't wait to see Helen's
reaction when she sees this,
and it's just about ready
for another Jubilee year.
Oh, that does look nice.
Hello. Hello. Hi, Helen.
Lovely to see you. You all right?
Excited!
THEY CHUCKLE
Why are you excited?
Oh, I just can't wait to see it.
I can just see the outline there,
and I just can't imagine
what it's going to look like
repaired cos I can only
remember it broken. So have you been
chatting about it
since you left it here? Oh, yeah!
Everybody has been chatting
about it.
So, yeah, the family are
really excited. Yeah?
They can't wait to see it. Aw!
Are you going to do the honours?
I can, yeah.
Go on, then. All right, Helen.
I can't believe how excited you get!
Oh, my goodness!
How do you do that?
I just...I just can't see any...
any repairs or cracks any more.
Oh! She's really looking, Jay!
Yeah, she is looking! I mean,
that's...unbelievable!
Oh, you're so clever.
My eyes aren't drawn to the bottom
any more.
I just look right into the middle.
Yeah. Good. That's great.
Oh, that's fabulous.
Thank you so much.
So it's going to go on the wall
with its partner? Yeah. I know
as soon as the family come up
the next time, it's just going
to be gathered around the plate
and having a look at it,
and just reminiscing.
And it's just fabulous that this
year, you know,
the Platinum Jubilee, and this is
for Queen Victoria,
Golden Jubilee. So you guys
could have your own Jubilee party
and people could come
and gaze at it. We could! You could.
I could get all the Victorian
china out and do a little
afternoon tea party.
That sounds wonderful!
I'll wait for the invite.
Top of the list, both of you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Honestly, it really means a lot.
It's been an absolute pleasure.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
All right. You take care now.
Bye-bye.
Thank you.
It was just absolutely incredible.
Just to look at it and see it how it
would be 135 years ago was amazing.
Kirsten has done a fantastic job,
and my mum would just be absolutely
over the moon about it.
And here we are in the Queen's
Platinum Jubilee and it's the year
I've had it fixed,
so it's just like...meant to be!
Flying the flag
for the red, white and blue,
it's finally time for Tim
to rebuild the tandem.
Once you start putting a bike
like this back together again,
you've just got to be methodical
and just take things step by step.
Now that we've got the front forks
in and the front handlebars,
I can now start seeing what this
bike's going to look like
and I think John hopefully
will be really pleased with the way
that it's been refinished.
And I'm really looking forward
to seeing what it rides like.
This home-made tandem hadn't
been ridden since it took a pair
of sweethearts on a Jubilee
jaunt to France in 1977.
How are we doing, Tim? Done? Yeah.
John is back to relive the memory,
and his late wife's sister Sally
has come to share the moment.
Hello. Hello. Hello.
How are we doing?
Good, thank you.
Yes. Nice to meet you. And you.
So, how are you feeling, John?
Mixed. It's a year since my
wife passed away, so... Yeah.
And this means a lot. Yeah. OK.
I want it to be cyclable.
I want it to be roadworthy
because I've commandeered Sally
to, um - provided it's
in good shape - to do a London
to Brighton with me in September.
Wow. This is quite special.
Ready to see it?
I think so.
OK. Come on, then, Tim. OK.
Oh!
Perfect.
My goodness!
That's brilliant. That's amazing.
Crumbs!
SALLY LAUGHS
John, look at the spokes.
Red, white and blue spokes.
Oh, blimey.
I don't know what to say!
When I left it, I wasn't sure
whether some of it was repairable.
I wasn't sure whether the rust
had got through it.
The frame had to be sandblasted,
and then Dom has done a fantastic
paint job. Brilliant.
It's going to be incredible
riding that. You say that now!
I can't wait! I'm looking
forward to it.
So you guys have got a lot
of riding to do.
I think you need a little
test ride, don't you?
I think we do, don't we?
Well, let's go outside and give
it a go. OK. OK.
Come on, then.
I've got the door.
You all right, Jay? Join us.
Come on. Thank you!
Look at this. You been on
a tandem before?
I've never been...and I'm never
going to go on one!
THEY CHUCKLE
DOM: Who's at the front?
JOHN: We don't know yet.
Got to be John, innit?
I tell you who'd be laughing now,
Deb would be laughing now!
Here we go!
When I got back on that tandem,
it did take me back to riding
the bike with Deb when we were
both young
and having a good time in France.
You must be proud, Tim. Eh?
It's looking gorgeous.
Oh, it looks brilliant.
I think my sister would
have been extremely happy.
Well done, well done!
They've done such a fantastic job
that it actually not only looks
amazing, but it was really lovely
to ride as well.
You ready for Brighton, then, yeah?
Not quite, but we'll get there!
A bit more practice, I think.
Good on you.
These guys have worked really hard
on it.
Do you mind if they have a go?
No, no, no. That would be brilliant.
That'd be amazing!
Right, then, Dom. All right?
Come on, then, Tim.
Let's do this. You all right?
Here we go.
OK. Right, ready? One, two, three.
Come on, then!
DOM CHUCKLES
That's it.
THEY APPLAUD
Brilliant, lads, good on ya!
Where are you going?
It looks like you're not going
to get your bike back.
I think they're off to France!
Wow.
Come back!
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