On the July 10 episode of The Repair Shop, expert Brenton West was left speechless after meeting Ian McPherson, who brought in a damaged SAS statue with a powerful backstory. The episode, dedicated to the restoration of World War II artifacts, showcased the emotional connection behind each item.
Ian presented Brenton and fellow restorer Dominic Chinea with a headless SAS statue that once belonged to his father. The statue, awarded to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the SAS, was passed down to Ian after his father’s death in 2002. Unfortunately, the statue’s head had broken off during some home decorating.
Ian’s story about his father stirred the room. He explained that his father enlisted in the army as soon as possible during World War II and was one of the original members of the SAS, a special forces unit known for operating behind enemy lines. Ian revealed that his father spent considerable time in Greece, fighting to liberate the country, and was wounded there.
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In a moving revelation, Ian shared that his father was rescued by the Greek resistance after suffering three gunshot wounds to his leg. In an extraordinary act of field surgery, the resistance fighters performed an amputation on a kitchen table to save his life. Brenton’s stunned response—“They cut his leg off?”—was met with poignant silence as Ian recounted the harrowing moment.
Despite his experiences, Ian described his father as modest, rarely speaking about his wartime bravery. Brenton reflected, “You find that with true heroes. They don’t often talk about it.” Emotionally, Ian added, “Everybody said he was a great guy, which is why this means a lot,” as tears welled up.
The touching moment culminated when Ian returned to The Repair Shop to see the fully restored statue. Overwhelmed, he exclaimed, “Woah,” as the statue was revealed “back to his old self.” Tears of gratitude followed as Ian praised Brenton’s craftsmanship: “I don’t think I could ask for better. You’ve fair done me proud and my dad too.”
This heartfelt episode of The Repair Shop aired on BBC One and remains available for streaming on iPlayer.