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

Bear repair team Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch are ready and waiting to give an adored 60s teddy bear called Fred a much-needed makeover. He has been a constant companion to owner Steph Derham, supporting her through many tough times as a child. Over 50 years later, he is still an important member of her family. Julie and Amanda set to work taking him apart and giving his fur a good shampoo, before reinforcing his seams and threadbare patches. Finally, he is plumped up with fresh stuffing, and new features are stitched in place to reinstate his friendly face. Steph is delighted to see her old friend in such fine fettle.

Embroidery expert Sara Dennis has a royal assignment when she takes receipt of a shabraque - an ornate horse blanket worn at ceremonial occasions. Owner Joss Green-Armytage’s father served in the household cavalry for almost 20 years and accompanied the Queen on her procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on the day she ascended the throne. The scarlet felt shabraque arrives torn and tattered, and the once-gleaming gold stitching is dull and detaching. Sara painstakingly restores the intricate embroidery, mending the extensive damage with ribbon to conceal the fixes, and thanks to one of Steve’s brainwaves, buffs the gilt detailing with breathtaking results.

And furniture restorer Will Kirk is on the case of the antique detective kit. Ex-police officer Maggie Turvey brings in a wooden trunk that was used before computerisation as a portable crime office, back in her early years on the job. Will cleans and repairs the chipped woodwork, replaces the lock and enhances the painted lettering on the front. This fascinating piece of policing history is returned to its custodian preserved perfectly. Show less