The latest episode of The Repair Shop saw expert bookbinder Chris Shaw navigating a tricky restoration project that almost went awry.
On Wednesday night’s (February 12) installment of the beloved BBC programme,
Chris took on the challenge of repairing a treasured childhood book brought in by two sisters, Amy Bird and Lottie Blunden.
The sisters arrived at the workshop carrying a sentimental item
that held immense personal value—a book their parents had lovingly created for Lottie as a Christmas present in 1976 when she was just three years old.
Lottie fondly shared the story behind the book, explaining that their mother had written it while their father had illustrated it.
“Mum wrote it and Dad illustrated it. It’s my most treasured possession still to this day,” Lottie said.
The book was a detailed chronicle of Lottie’s early years, capturing key moments from her birth up until she turned three. It even included touching photographs, such as the moment her younger sister, Amy, was born. Sadly, the sisters’ father passed away in 2014, making the book even more valuable as a piece of their family’s history.
As they handed over the book for restoration, Lottie expressed their concerns about its deteriorating condition. “I think it’s so tatty now. Pages are coming out because we just had this book out so much,” she explained.
Water damage, marks, and general wear and tear had left the book fragile, and the sisters wanted to ensure it could be preserved for future generations. Lottie added, “Especially now that Dad isn’t with us, it just feels really important to preserve it for our family and the future generations of our family.”
Chris Shaw’s Restoration Plans Take an Unexpected Turn
After the sisters departed, Chris examined the book closely and shared his thoughts on how to approach the restoration process. He quickly noticed a major obstacle— the book’s outer cover had been coated in sticky-back plastic.
“I’ve noticed this outer cover has been covered in sticky-back plastic. What it restricts me to do is sort out any of these stains. So, in the ideal world, I would like to remove the sticky-back plastic,” Chris explained.
However, his well-intentioned plan quickly hit a snag. As he carefully started peeling back the plastic, he made a shocking discovery—it was lifting some of the original color from the back cover.
Realizing the potential disaster, Chris immediately halted his approach and admitted to the audience, “Intention good, bad decision. So, by removing the sticky-back plastic, in fact, it’s removed some of the colour from the back cover.”
His biggest fear was that if the same issue occurred on the front cover, it would ruin the book’s appearance entirely. Deciding not to take the risk, he abandoned the idea of removing the plastic altogether.
“If that were replicated on the front, it would be a total disaster. Basically, I’m stopping removing the sticky-back plastic because it’s too risky!” he confessed.
A Clever Alternative Saves the Day
Despite the setback, Chris didn’t let the unexpected turn of events shake his confidence. Instead, he devised a clever workaround to address the book’s issues without causing further damage.
“The positive side, I can tackle this stain here and then obviously re-colour the losses that I’ve taken out. Then I can reinstate some sticky-back plastic to the correct width, and you’re not going to notice what I’ve done,” he assured.
Through meticulous restoration work, Chris managed to strengthen the book’s binding, clean up the pages, and restore the cover to a much-improved state—all while preserving its original charm.
An Emotional Reveal for the Sisters
When Amy and Lottie returned to see the finished results, they were left completely stunned. Their once-damaged book had been given a new lease on life, with pages reinforced, stains minimized, and the fragile structure expertly restored.
As they flipped through the book, Lottie was overcome with emotion. She gasped in amazement, “How have you done this?”
The transformation exceeded their expectations, and the sisters were deeply moved to see their cherished family keepsake revived to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Chris Shaw’s quick thinking and expert craftsmanship not only saved the restoration project from disaster but also ensured that this precious piece of family history could be treasured for many more years. The Repair Shop once again proved why it remains a fan-favorite, showcasing the skill, dedication, and heartfelt stories behind each restoration.
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