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Episode 9

Episode 9 of 40

Jay Blades and the team restore a painting of a Lebanese landscape, a pair of silver Shabbat candlesticks and a dilapidated car jack.

Jay Blades and the team bring three treasured family heirlooms, and the memories they hold, back to life.

The first item to arrive at the barn is a painting depicting the city of Beirut in Lebanon. It was painted by Nonny Jackson-Twist’s grandfather just after the Second World War. Her grandfather was stationed in the Middle East and, due to an injury, spent many months recovering in Lebanon. He painted the view from his window, looking out over the city and the mountains beyond, and when he returned home, the painting came with him. Nonny has fond memories of his time with his grandfather, who would share memories of his time serving his country. Nonny would very much like to hang the painting in his home, but it’s in no fit state. The paint has faded, the canvas is cracked and some sections of paint are flaking away. Fine art conservator Lucia Scalisi is only too happy to take on this monumental task.

Silversmith Brenton West meets Lisa Sachs and hears the dramatic story that accompanies a pair of silver Shabbat candlesticks. They originally belonged to Lisa’s Jewish grandparents and were used every Friday night to welcome in the Sabbath. During the Blitz, her grandparents’ home was bombed and the candlesticks were one of the very few possessions to survive. However, they did not escape unscathed, and Lisa would like Brenton to repair the bent, tarnished metal so that she might use them each week with her family, in memory of her grandparents.

And Bev Smith and her daughter Georgie have brought in a practical mechanical gadget for Dom Chinea to assess. The 1950s car jack came in very useful at the caravan park that Bev’s family owned. Bev has many happy memories of growing up there and remembers helping her father as he moved and maintained the caravans. He would pull her around on the jack and operate it, lifting her up and down. There is not much life in the old workhorse now – it is broken, rusty and its cheery red colour has faded away. Bev would love to have it reconditioned so that they can display it, which is where Dom comes in.

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43 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:39

    Herve

    Together

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jay Blades
Narrator Bill Paterson
Expert Brenton West
Expert Dominic Chinea
Expert Lucia Scalisi
Expert Kirsten Ramsay
Director Rich Merritt
Series Producer Tanveer Bari
Series Producer Rebecca McLaughlin
Executive Producer Alex Raw
Production Company Ricochet Ltd

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If you have a treasured possession that needs restoring, please get in touch.