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Jay Blades and the team restore three treasured family heirlooms, reviving cherished memories in the process.

The barn’s resident goldsmith, Richard Talman, warmly welcomes the first visitor, Mike. He has brought the engagement and wedding rings he designed for his late wife Sarah. Their love story began at a chance meeting in an ice rink over 30 years ago, and Mike soon knew she was ‘the one’. He designed a beautiful, solitaire diamond ring with which he proposed to Sarah and a simple wedding band to be given on the big day. Tragically, Sarah died 16 years ago, leaving Mike to raise their two young children. His daughter is now nearing her twenty-first birthday, and Mike would love her to have her mother’s rings as a birthday gift. Richard excels himself to get these broken, bent and faded pieces back to their sparkling best.

Next to arrive at the workshop is Lisa Scott. She’s keen for pinball wizard Geoff Harvey to bring the penny slot machine that was once in her mum’s amusement arcade back to life. Lisa grew up above the arcade, and the noise of busy slot machines evokes lovely childhood memories. The machine was badly damaged during a fire at the arcade many years ago, but Sarah and her mum held on to this one, as it was always earmarked for Sarah. The family used to pat the top for good luck, which she and her children continue to do. However, the machine now needs some luck of its own as it’s in a sorry state – the fire melted the paintwork and colourful back panel, and the internal workings need a total overhaul.

Lastly, there’s a project for Will Kirk and bookbinder Chris Shaw to tackle together. Alexa Halabi owns a wooden writing box that her father left to her, but it’s broken and unusable. Will and Chris piece it back together and get it looking beautiful again.