THE REPAIR SHOP BRINGS INSPIRATION DURING 2020

Without a doubt, the year 2020 seems like simultaneously the longest and quickest decade I have ever lived through.

I have vague recollections of starting the year watching the news about the wildfires in the Australian outback, and now in September find myself experiencing similar blazes practically in my own backyard. We have experienced the impeachment of a president, mass protests and riots, and the outbreak of the worst pandemic in at least a century. Social media makes me feel like I’m navigating a minefield of partisanship, tribalism, and division unlike anything the U.S. has seen since the Civil War. I often feel like we live in a society which is, in a word, broken.

All of these things can be quite overwhelming, but in this tumultuous storm of events I have found a delightfully peaceful harbor in the form of a charming streaming series, “The Repair Shop.” This series, originally aired on BBC One in the U.K. and now available on Netflix, features a cast of both regular and guest artisans and conservators who work tirelessly to restore objects brought to them. These objects are frequently family heirlooms or cherished childhood relics, and all have seen better days. In some cases, the restorations provided by The Repair Shop crew seem to border on the miraculous.

The core team of restorers featured on the show, filmed at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in Singleton, West Sussex, England, is composed of nine individuals, led by their foreman, Jay Blades. Steve Fletcher is the show’s resident horologist (clockmaker), though he dabbles in all things mechanical, it seems. Suzie Fletcher, who is Steve’s sister, tackles matters of leatherworking, having a background specializing in saddles.

Dominic (Dom) Chinea focuses on metalwork and has restored pieces ranging from an old pub sign to a Victorian-era streetlamp. Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell work together to restore old toys, largely of the stuffed animal variety.

The Repair Shop also has Kirsten Ramsay to handle all things ceramic, and her deft touch with a paintbrush also frequently helps Steve with fine details on clocks and other projects. Paintings are the domain of conservator Lucia Scalisi, who not only repairs torn canvases but also cleans artwork to give it new life.

Silversmith Brenton West tackles all manner of fine work, including at least two different mirrors with intricate silver working. Last, but certainly not least, carpenter and cabinet maker Will Kirk restores and repairs all types of woodwork, from old clock cases to one of the ensemble’s oldest pieces of restoration: a 300-year-old writing desk.

One of the reasons I really appreciate watching The Repair Shop is the way the various experts rely on each other’s skills and abilities. My wife and I note in discussing the show about the way in which Steve Fletcher, for example, will ask Kirk to help him repair the housing for a clock, such as an older propellor clock made from the actual propellor of a World War I biplane.

The latter offers a seeming genuinely delighted smile and a cheerful, “Leave it with me, mate!” and Steve will return to the work of dismantling the mechanism of the clock, confident that his teammate will return the outsourced object in pristine condition.

Whether working in teams or on their own, the skills displayed by the series’ artisans will often leave me sitting slack-jawed in amazement. The attention to detail and just overall passion given to each piece is truly remarkable. Each person seems to truly pour their heart into their work, and it is shown in the results and in the often tearful reactions of the clients when they receive their refurbished items.

One of my favorite pieces in terms of overall change was a ceremonial helmet brought in by a man whose great grandfather originally wore the piece as a member of the Life Guards, which is a regiment of the British Army and part of the Household Cavalry, serving opposite the Blues and Royals. As seen in the picture below, the change in the helmet was astounding.

There are currently 31 episodes of The Repair Shop available to watch on Netflix, each featuring three repairs/restorations. I have found the show to be nothing short of engaging, charming, and endearing. It lends some hope that nothing is quite beyond repair and restoration, including the frightfully marred world that we seem to live in today.