Fans of The Repair Shop are frequently moved to tears by the incredible restorations that the team, including Jay Blades, deliver to its clients, reviving childhood memories and paying tribute to loved ones.
The most recent edition of the BBC show was especially significant since it recognised the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush’s arrival in the UK in 1948, and so highlighted the legacy of the Windrush Generation.
With Windrush Day, which honours the Caribbean population and their contributions to British society, coming place on Thursday June 22, the people who appeared on Wednesday night’s The Repair Shop brought in four pieces of significant sentimental importance belonging to their family.
A woman named Beverley brought in a passport given to her father Edgar in Jamaica in 1948, which had been weathered over the previous eight decades.
Keithly brought in a large luggage, which belonged to his mother, Locita, and which she planned to take with her on a vacation to the West Indies in the near future.
Stephen and Dorcas presented the team with a clock that had belonged to their parents, Hermann and Keturah, and that they had purchased after coming in the UK from Antigua and desired to hear chime again.
Meanwhile, Patrick Vernon OBE, the man behind Windrush Day becoming a commemorative day on its 70th anniversary in 2018, brought in a radiogram that used to belong to his late friend Eddie Noble, which he had received as a present following his buddy’s service in the RAF.
Beverley was shocked when her father’s passport was returned to her in perfect shape, along with a specially-made box to store it in to maintain it that way.
Keithly was astounded by his mother’s grip’s makeover, which featured fresh new lining on the inside that could be peeled back to see the original material.
Dorcas and Stephen were in the barn when they heard the clock chime again, bringing back memories of their childhoods with their parents.
Patrick appeared to have been transported back in time as the radiogram began to play music again.
One of the best and most important episodes of #therepairshop it was a truly amazing programme
— carlt 💙 💛 🇺🇦 (@carlt_61) June 21, 2023
This, for me is the best episode of #therepairshop that I've seen. Thank you to everyone who brought their items in and shared their memories with us ❤️
— Lorraine ☮️🦋🏍🏈🧚♀️🔮🍄✌️ (@hippy_lorraine) June 21, 2023
Is it normal to ugly cry watching #therepairshop ?
— Laura (@MissLauraMG) June 21, 2023
Thank you so much @TheRepairShop literally been bawling my eyes out the entire programme! #Windrush #History #TheRepairShop
— Rachel (@littlelady2004) June 21, 2023
Aaah I am off again. What a brilliant programme, everyone on there is so talented #TheRepairShop
— Jenkx (@jenksles14) June 21, 2023
Is it normal to ugly cry watching #therepairshop ?
— Laura (@MissLauraMG) June 21, 2023
One person who watched the programme tweeted: ‘This, for me is the best episode of #therepairshop that I’ve seen. Thank you to everyone who brought their items in and shared their memories with us ❤️.’
‘#TheRepairShop is always really touching but today’s episode was extra special. It showed the journeys made by the Windrush generation (passport and ‘grip’) but also how they worked to establish themselves in the UK (clock and radiogram). Great job @jayblades_ & team!’ another said.
Someone else wrote: ‘Watching this episode and loving every precious memory reborn.’
Another individual applauded the ‘skilled’ folks working in the barn, while another stated that they were ‘bawling’ their eyes out during the show.
The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
