Chris Shaw, a restoration expert on BBC's The Repair Shop, narrowly avoided a 'total disaster' during a recent episode while working on a cherished illustrated book. The incident occurred as Shaw attempted to remove sticky-back plastic from the book's cover, a move he later described as a 'bad decision'.
Sticky-Back Plastic Removal Goes Wrong
Shaw explained to viewers that the removal process had already stripped some colour from the back cover. 'Intention good, bad decision. So, by removing the sticky-back plastic, in fact, it's removed some of the colour from the back cover,' he said. 'If that were replicated on the front, it would be a total disaster. Basically, I'm stopping removing of the sticky-back plastic because it's too risky!'
Instead of proceeding with the original plan, Shaw devised a contingency. He tackled a stain on the cover and planned to re-colour the losses, then reinstate sticky-back plastic to the correct width. 'You're not going to notice what I've done,' he assured.
A Treasured Family Heirloom
The book belonged to siblings Amy Bird and Lottie Blunden. It was a gift to Lottie from their parents when she was three years old in 1976. Their mother wrote the story, while their father provided the illustrations. Lottie described it as her most 'treasured possession'. The book chronicled her life from babyhood to the birth of her younger sister. 'It's amazing! What a beautiful thing to have, and your parents are obviously super talented,' Shaw remarked.
Tragically, their father passed away in 2014, making the book even more precious. The siblings noted it had become 'tatty', with loose pages and numerous marks they hoped Shaw could address.
Restoration Success
When the siblings returned to the barn to see the restored book, they were astounded. 'Look at the edges! Doesn't it look strong?' one exclaimed. The other added, 'It feels so robust now, doesn't it? I love that you can still see where the smudge was, but it feels cleaner somehow, and the memory is still there.'
Describing the restoration as 'perfect', they thanked Shaw for his craftsmanship. One sister admitted feeling 'overwhelmed' seeing the restored book. The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
