Ep 4. Riding Crop, Grandad Chair, Hungarian Vase

The Repair Shop is a British television show where a group of expert craftsmen and women repair and restore cherished items brought in by members of the public. The series focuses on a group of specialists who each have their own area of expertise. This includes wood mend and restoration, clock repairs, metalwork and ceramics. The team work together to salvage the history, memories and emotions attached to each item, with the aim of returning it to its former glory.

In season 3, episode 4, the team welcome a range of treasured objects in desperate need of repair. One item is a cracked Hungarian vase dating back to the 19th century. The vase is brought in by a woman who inherited it from her grandmother, but it has been in storage ever since due to its damage. The restoration expert attempts to glue the cracks with a special technique, but it is a race against time as the glue needs to set before the deadline.

Next, a grandad chair is brought in by a grandfather who built it himself in the 1960s but has recently noticed it is coming apart at the joints. The team's wood mend and restoration expert tackles the task of dismantling the chair to scrape away the old glue before carefully putting it back together using modern methods. To make the chair even more special, the team attempt to source the original material for the seat, in order to maintain its authenticity.

Lastly, a riding crop comes into the shop. It has been brought in by a woman in her 70s who was given the crop by her grandmother who used to ride horses in the early 20th century. The woman believes that the crop may have been used during the famous Ladies' Steeplechase race at Aintree Racecourse, where her grandmother was a competitive rider. The metalwork expert takes the crop apart to assess the damage before using his expertise to restore this wonderful family heirloom.

Throughout the episode, the team share their knowledge and skills with each other and with the audience, describing the techniques they use to repair and restore each object. The Repair Shop is heart-warming and informative, and stands out from other renovation and restoration programmes because of the affection that is generated between the owners and their cherished belongings.

In summary, season 3, episode 4 of The Repair Shop sees the team attempt the restoration of a cherished Hungarian vase, a grandad chair which was self-built by the owner, and a historically significant riding crop. The episode highlights the amazing skills and techniques that these craftsmen and women possess, and the passion they bring to the delicate processes they use to restore these cherished items to their former glory.