Episode 4

First to arrive in the barn is Dawn Shrives from West Sussex, carrying a remarkable model watermill built by her late father in 1996. Handmade, brick by miniature brick, to mirror the family home, the mill once stood proudly outside the house. But years of exposure to the British weather have left the structure crumbling and fragile, with missing bricks and a broken roof the least of its problems. On the face of it, it’s an unlikely job for horologist Steve Fletcher, but having carried out his own successful home renovations in the past, Steve happily turns his many talents to this new challenge. Step by step, he carefully rebuilds the model, preserving the character and craftsmanship that Dawn’s father poured into every detail, and adds a working watermill to create a lasting tribute for his proud family.

Steve isn’t the only member of the Fletcher family hard at work at the barn. Sharon Pawley and Kelly Bromley-Smith have brought along a much-loved clock that was once the treasured possession of Sharon’s dad and Kelly’s close friend Roy. Even in his nineties, Roy had a zest and enthusiasm for life, and he and Kelly formed an unlikely cross-generational friendship, spending many adventure-filled days out together. However, since Roy’s passing, the clock has fallen silent and its case has become chipped and worn. Steve’s son Fred Fletcher teams up with ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay and dial restorer Cindy Welland to return the clock to full working order — restoring not just a timepiece, but a powerful reminder of friendship and shared memories.

Symone Williams has travelled from west London, along with a spectacular but badly damaged Notting Hill Carnival headpiece created by her father, Vernon Fellows Williams. A proud Trinidadian, Vernon was a founding figure of the Carnival and leader of the Genesis carnival band. He gave up drumming to focus fully on creating the extraordinary costumes the band wore, of which this headpiece is a prime example. Made from copper, fabric and intricate decorative elements, this once show-stopping item is now dented and crushed, and the materials have become torn over time. It’s down to metalworker Brenton West and textile conservator Rebecca Bissonnet to combine their skills and restore this unique and important piece so it can once again take centre stage at the Carnival’s upcoming 60th anniversary celebrations.

Arriving from Leicestershire, Steve Humber and his daughter Frankie bring with them a pair of vintage speed skates that helped launch Steve to sporting stardom. This precious pair were originally lent to Steve in 1985 when he took part in – and won – his first ‘long track’ skating race on the frozen Cambridgeshire Fens. The skates ended up being gifted to him, and Steve went on to enjoy a long career, which included a World Championship bronze medal and selection for the British Olympic team. Frankie has followed in her dad’s speed-skating footsteps, and the sport remains a powerful bond between father and daughter, especially following the sad loss of Frankie’s mum three years ago. However, now rusted, torn and fragile, the skates need the expertise of master cobbler Dean Westmoreland to give them a second life, and maybe even the chance to glide across frozen fenland ice once more.