On Friday night, BBC audiences enjoyed a special Christmas edition of The Repair Shop, featuring renowned guests such as Dame Helen Mirren, Julia Donaldson, and Rob Brydon who brought cherished possessions for restoration.
One standout story was that of Ian McKenzie and his family, who arrived with a highly sentimental Flexible Flyer sleigh. Ian revealed he had owned the sled for 60 years, handed down to him by his brother, and that it was originally manufactured in 1928 — making it nearly a century old.
Expert restorer Dominic Chinea described the sleigh as “incredible” but soon encountered a significant problem. The sleigh’s critical front rails were distorted and mismatched, a result of decades of use and spirited play from Ian’s nine children and 14 grandchildren.
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“This isn’t good news,” Dom admitted. “The two bars that run to the front of the rails are completely different shapes when they should be identical. They have become bent and twisted over the years, and aligning everything properly is a real challenge.”
Despite the complex restoration hurdles, Dom persevered, carefully straightening and refurbishing the sleigh. When Ian first saw the revived sled, he was overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling up as he exclaimed, “That’s the way it was! I just wish I was a kid again!”
The touching repair highlighted not only the skill of The Repair Shop’s team but also the powerful memories that treasured objects can carry across generations.