´óÏó´«Ã½

First through the workshop doors are Alex and his son Flynn, with a cuddly keepsake that’s provided comfort and security for both father and son. Named Lamb Chop, the stuffed toy was given to Alex when he was just four months old and accompanied him on countless hospital visits for hearing difficulties when he was a child. Alex has now gifted Lamb Chop to Flynn to try to combat his fear of the dark. But after a lifetime supporting others, Lamb Chop is missing an eye, an ear, he’s not as furry as he once was, and he’s missing his orange bow tie. The Bear Ladies, Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch, work their magic on the much-loved toy, much to the delight of both Alex and Flynn when they return to be reunited with their super ted.

But it’s not just cuddly toys that are given a new lease of life at the barn. In fact, it’s often electrical or mechanical items that need to be recharged. Douglas arrives with a tinplate toy rocket in need of a boost from mechanical whizz David Burville. Douglas was gifted the toy by his parents for Christmas 1959. Missing its antenna and whistle which both triggered the toy to move, Douglas is keen to get it working again for the sake of his grandson Tom and to rekindle his own memories of Christmas as a child.

When it comes to toys, none has held quite as much importance as the tractor brought in by Vanessa and her three children; Jess, Ellie and Will. It’s a weighty fix for metal maestro Dominic Chinea who discovers that the pedal toy belonged to their husband and father, Rob who was a farmer and died in a tragic accident aged just 52. Rob was gifted the toy at four-years-old and loved tractors thereafter – travelling to his wedding on one, taking his daughter to prom and ‘even for his funeral, he went on a tractor’. The toy tractor now stays out by Rob’s grave but being outdoors has taken its toll. Dom works tirelessly to bring the tractor back to its full glory much to the delight of the family.

Over the years a string of toys has been repaired at the barn, but the final visitor Emma has a toy that has strings attached. It’s a 1970s puppet called Billy Willy; the last gift given to Emma by her father, who died when she was a young child. Between the ages of eight and 11, Billy Willy accompanied Emma wherever she went. Now the poor puppet has a crack on its face and is missing a leg. The restoration by the Bear Ladies and ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay brings a delighted Emma to reflect on the reasons her father bought Billy Willy; ‘Maybe he knew that I needed something that was going to make me smile, and it definitely makes me smile.’