The latest VE Day special of BBC’s The Repair Shop delivered a deeply moving moment, bringing viewers and 101-year-old Royal Navy veteran John Holloway to tears. The episode centered around a cockpit clock that John had salvaged from a World War II plane he once serviced, turning history into personal memory.
This wasn’t just any clock—it was a priceless keepsake, gifted by John to his beloved late wife in 1947. “She was the best wife and the best thing I ever had,” John said with heartfelt emotion, recalling 66 years of loving memories they shared.
During the show, John revealed how the clock was damaged while moving from Devon six years ago, leaving him devastated. “That’s a part of me and Con,” he said, referring to his wife. For John, the clock was more than just an object; it represented his wife’s presence, as she always kept it on her bedside table.
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His routine of speaking to his late wife each night, saying, “Goodnight Con, I love you,” added even more poignancy to the restoration request. When the clock was finally repaired and revealed, John was overcome with emotion, moved by the skill and care that brought such an important piece of his life back to its former glory.
The episode also honored other wartime memories, including a doll owned by Ruth Haters, a Jewish girl who was evacuated from Austria to England as a child during the 1930s to avoid the horrors of the concentration camps. Restorers worked to lovingly restore this treasured doll, which Ruth described as her security through difficult times.
Marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the episode showcased the power of restoration to preserve history and personal stories, touching the hearts of viewers across the UK. The Repair Shop continues to offer profound insights into the past, one precious item at a time.