麻豆社

First through the workshop doors is Minty Barlow, with a miniature house from her childhood. It was originally part of a model village tourist attraction in her hometown of Cleethorpes. Minty鈥檚 parents saved the house when the attraction closed in the 1970s and re-sited it in their garden. They created a magical world of fantasy and fairies for Minty and her brother. Young Minty was captivated by the fairy house and would love her daughter to see it in its original, charming condition. She feels having it restored would be a testament to her late parents and the magical childhood they gave her. Ceramics conservator Kirsten Ramsay and woodwork expert Will Kirk join forces on this enchanting restoration.

A pair of sturdy suede shoes are what evokes childhood for Bev from Nottingham. They鈥檙e wrapped up in memories of her much-missed grandmother Betsy, who gifted them to her when she died. Young Bev loved these shoes so much that, every time she visited her gran, she鈥檇 pop them on and march about enjoying the loud clomping sound they made. Cobbler Dean Westmoreland works on Bev鈥檚 unusual request to restore the shoes but to keep the clomp. When Bev returns to try the shoes on, it鈥檚 like getting a hug from her gran all over again.

For Juliet King-Smith, it鈥檚 a toy rabbit that transports her back to her childhood home. Her father was the prolific children鈥檚 author Dick King-Smith, who wrote the book The Sheep-Pig on which the film Babe was based. Wilfred the Rabbit used to hang in her father鈥檚 office throughout her childhood, but a life as a creative muse has left its toll for the poor rabbit. Toy restorers Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch have their work cut out bringing his bounce back.

Loona Hazarika from London brings an Indian dancing doll for the attention of Kirsten Ramsay and clockwork king Steve Fletcher. This dainty figurine comes in separate stacked pieces connected by wires. Loona has memories from childhood of touching the doll and it moving as if dancing. The doll originally belonged to his neighbour Florence, who played the role of surrogate granny to Loona and his sister. Both adored her company and as children were regular visitors to her home, where the doll always performed a dance. Sadly, the figurine is not as spritely as she once was, with chipped paintwork, a broken arm and an imbalanced body. Can her restoration bring Loona鈥檚 childhood memories flooding back?