BBC The Repair Shop’s Will Kirk tackles ‘worst I’ve ever seen’ project and warns ‘It’s missing a lot’
BBC The Repair Shop expert Will Kirk has been left with a mammoth task after one of the “worst things” he has ever seen was brought to the barn in a recent episode of the heartwarming series.
Bev Hansey walked into the barn with a piece of her home town hat her father and brother made with her bare hands.
Explaining the piece of history to Kirk, she said: “This was the Broome village sign that my dad made for the millennium. He was a joiner by trade, and it was an honour for him to do it.
“Broome is in East Anglia, on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. My dad and my mum married and bought a bungalow there, and we grew up there as children, myself and my twin brother.
“My was Brian and he was well known in the village. He was quiet an unassuming man, but he had a real passion for wood, and I have many happy memories of the workshop.
“But unfortunately, whilst the sign was commissioned and he made all the design and the templates, sadly he passed away in 1999 so he was never able to see if come to fruition.
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“My twin brother, who was a partner in the business, he took it upon himself to finish it off on his behalf.
“There was a lot of love put into this by my dad, by my brother, and then my mum unveiled it on the Millennium Eve at the village hall.”
Not wanting Hansey to get her hopes up, Kirk admitted: “It looks like it has started to deteriorate over time, the wood is really soft, it’s not supposed to be like that.
“It’s missing a lot. It’s pretty bad, it’s probably one of the worst things I’ve seen on this table. I have got a lot of work to get on with.”
After taking the sign to his workshop, Kirk took a closer look and said: “This is an amazing sign, and I can see why Bev is so upset with the current state of the sign.
“I mean, it looks really tired, faded, not very happy, and the amount of work that’s gone into making this by her dad and brother, I can see why she wants to get it fixed up and looking wonderful again.
“There is a lot wrong with this. If I knock up there, that sounds solid, but further down, that deeper sound means that wood is definitely not as solid as the top.
“I really hope I can keep as much as the original as possible.”
After working on the sign and getting it back to its original state, it was time for Hansey to return to the barn to see the work Kirk had produced.
Before unveiling the sign, he told Hansey: “I am really hoping that I have done justice to your dad and your brother’s work.”
Pulling off the red sheet, Hansey was left in disbelief and said: “Oh my goodness… It’s just as it was. It’s beautiful.
“I can’t quite believe you’ve been able to do it. That is just gorgeous. Thank you, and you have got all the detail back as well. The red tractor. Absolutely amazing.
“They would be so proud to see it in all its glory; they really, really would.”