Episode 6

First to arrive at the barn is Lisa Power, carrying a fragile but groundbreaking piece of British social history — the very first logbook from Gay Switchboard, founded in 1974. Created at a time when there was no legal protection for gay people in the UK, the book recorded calls from those seeking advice, safety and reassurance. Lisa herself was one of the earliest volunteers, and the logbook represents not just a turning point in the support available to a marginalised community, but a lasting reminder of the friends and colleagues she worked alongside. Now reduced to a loose collection of delicate pages, with its spine missing and margins crumbling, the logbook is at risk of being lost forever. Bookbinder Chris Shaw must find a way to reunite the pages without trimming a single word, preserving not just ink on paper, but the voices of a community who stood together in the face of hostility.

Next through the doors is Paul Banwell from Gloucestershire, accompanied by his son, Phil – and by the rocking horse that Paul hand-built for his children 55 years ago at the request of his wife, Tini. With Christmas looming, Paul worked tirelessly, finishing the project just in time for the big day, much to the joy of Phil and his sister. The rocking horse later became the centrepiece of the nursery that Tini ran, delighting hundreds of children over three decades, but years of enthusiastic riding have left the wood cracked and warped, and the leather saddle badly worn. It will take the combined skills of woodworker Will Kirk and saddler Suzie Fletcher to repair the splits, restore the paintwork and create a vibrant new saddle — carefully preserving the original beneath — so this family heirloom can carry on giving rides to the next generation.

From Wakefield comes Katherine Crimes, with a beautiful but badly damaged portrait of her grandmother Madge, painted in the 1950s to celebrate her graduation as a qualified nurse. The image captures a proud young woman at the start of her career, but the decades have not been kind, and the passing years have left the paper brittle and torn, with some key fragments completely detached. It’s down to paper conservator Angelina to painstakingly stabilise and line the fragile surface, before paintings restorer Lucia can begin the delicate task of retouching the missing areas, recreating the artist’s soft blended brushwork. Together they hope to return the portrait to its former radiance — a fitting tribute to a grandmother remembered for her strength, warmth and care.

Lastly, Dennis Ffrench arrives from Staffordshire with a magnificent pair of conga drums that have been the heartbeat of his life since 1986. Bought right at the start of his professional life, the drums accompanied Dennis as he built a career in community theatre, eventually becoming the longest-playing Black pantomime dame in the world. However, after decades of performances and workshops, the fibreglass shells are scratched and dented, the chrome tarnished and the skins worn beyond use. Drum restorer Pete Woods must strip the drums back, repair and respray the shells, replace the heads and restore their tone — adding a dazzling finish worthy of the stage — so Dennis can continue to spread rhythm, confidence and joy for years to come.