The Repair Shop viewers ‘sob’ over woman’s emotional reaction to seeing her great-grandmother’s century-old music stool restored to its former glory
- The Repair Shop viewers were left in tears over last night’s emotional episode
- Emma Collins, from East Sussex, brought in her great-grandmother’s music stool
- The piece of furniture was well worn after being used by the family for 100 years
- Emma broke down when she was presented with the stool after its restoration
The Repair Shop viewers were left in tears at an emotional reveal on last night’s episode.
Customer Emma Collins, of East Sussex, appeared on the BBC2 show in the hope of restoring her great-grandmother’s 100-year-old music stool to its former glory.
The project was given to leather expert Suzie Fletcher, who painstakingly stripped and cleaned the stool before replacing the leather that had been worn down over a century of use.
Moved to tears: Emma Collins, of East Sussex, asked for help restoring her great-grandmother’s music stool to its former glory. She became emotional when she saw the results
Restored heirloom: The project was given to leather expert Suzie Fletcher, who painstakingly stripped and cleaned the stool before replacing the leather that had been worn down over a century of use. Pictured, the stool as it was presented to Emma at the end of the episode
Emotional: Emma broke down in tears when she was presented with the restored stool at the end of the episode – prompting a similar reaction from viewers at home (pictured)
Emma broke down in tears when she was presented with the restored stool at the end of the episode – prompting a similar reaction from viewers at home.
One tweeted: ‘I am getting emotional over a piano stool! @TheRepairShop. What are you doing to me? These guys are so talented, what a lovely thing to be able to for people #therepairshop.’
Another posted: ‘A music stool! A music stool has me sobbing. Fabulous renovation on #therepairshop So special.’
A third wrote: ‘And there we go again #therepairshop peeling onions over a stool. @Jay_n_Co and team taking people back to their childhood.’
Speechless: Emma was blown away when she laid eyes on the restored stool for the first time
Grateful: Suzie and Emma were both tearful as they hugged after the big reveal
Fan favourite: Dozens of viewers took to Twitter to share their emotional response to the show
Others said the show is the mood-boosting relief the nation needs in a difficult time.
One posted: ‘If you are feeling low and have yet to discover this beautifully uplifting program then tune in, it’s such a tonic! #therepairshop.’
Presenting the stool to The Repair Shop team, Emma told how it had been used by her great-grandmother, Ethel Richmond, 100 years ago.
Ethel was a talented violinist who won a scholarship at the age of 14 to the Royal Academy of Arts in Manchester and became and internationally renowned musician.
The stool was passed down through the generations, being used by Emma’s pianist grandmother, her mother, who played the clarinet, and finally by Emma, who played the clarinet and bassoon.
Well-worn: The stool was in a poor state after 100 years of use, as seen above
Emma wanted to restore the stool so that it can be used by her son for his piano lessons, continuing the family tradition.
However she said the sentimental value of the stool was far greater.
‘It is so much more than just a chair,’ she said. ‘It represents my childhood and the peace and sanctuary of my grandma’s house. To bring it back to the lovely, shiny, lustrous, chestnutty thing that I remember from nearly 40 years ago would be incredible.’
Emma returned at the end of the episode and revealed how in the weeks since she had dropped off the stool, her grandfather had suffered a stroke, intensifying the desire to recapture the serenity of her grandparents’ house.
She was blown away with Suzie’s phenomenal work and teared up when she saw the stool for the first time.
In a touching gesture, Suzie also framed the original leather she removed from the stool as an extra keepsake for Emma and her family.