On the latest episode of the beloved BBC series, The Repair Shop, guest Jonny was overcome with emotion as he brought in a precious rugby relic connected to a close friend who tragically passed away.
Returning on Wednesday, 28 January, the show welcomed Jonny, who presented a fragile textile—a flag from a historic 1936 rugby match between Ireland and England—for restoration by expert Rebecca.
Jonny began, “I’m not sure it’s going to survive, actually,” as he carefully unrolled the delicate flag. He shared its significance: “This flag was presented by the Ireland team to the captain of the England team as a memento of the game. My grandfather, Jack Siggins, played for and captained Ireland in this 1936 match.”
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He revealed that the flag had been passed on to the England rugby team but eventually came back to him through a remarkable connection. Jonny recounted meeting his friend Olly in a pub during a rugby game, where they discovered their grandfathers had shared a unique bond—Olly’s grandfather had captained the English team in that same match.
“This flag is the very memento my grandfather would have given to Olly’s grandfather,” Jonny said.
Tragically, Olly was killed in a road accident. At his memorial, Olly’s father George offered Jonny the flag with touching words: “It would have gone to Olly, but now, because of our link, it’s right that it comes to you.”
Holding back tears, Jonny described Olly as “generous, kind, and warm-hearted” and shared how much he is missed. “It should be him doing this today, but it’s me instead,” he said emotionally.
Although the silk flag was fragile and falling apart, Rebecca’s expert restoration work brought it back to life. Jonny was speechless upon seeing the restored flag. “That’s amazing, you’ve worked a miracle,” he exclaimed. “I’m absolutely staggered.”
Looking ahead, Jonny hopes to reunite with Olly’s family regularly to honor their shared history and to cherish the restored flag together. “A big part of my motivation was to preserve Olly’s memory. Now that it’s repaired, I’m really looking forward to showing Olly’s family. It’ll be a wonderful way to come together, honor him, and say thank you,” he reflected.
The Repair Shop continues to air Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One and is available on iPlayer.