I work in The Repair Shop and this is how we could eventually rescue our own family heirlooms

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As a 17-year-old, I found myself working on a construction site, feeling stuck in my current path. Despite struggling with academics, my affection for books was undeniable, which led me to enroll in a bookbinding course at a technical college. This experience captivated me profoundly, almost like being struck by lightning. Books offer an escape to another realm, but it’s the tactile aspects – the paper’s texture, its aroma, the sound of a book opening, and the sensation when holding one – that hold a special place in my heart.

As a passionate cinema-goer who cherishes every frame, I find myself drawn to the seemingly ordinary yet profoundly captivating books that we pen or adorn ourselves – diaries, notebooks, sketchbooks, photo albums, and even cookbooks filled with personal recipes. These intimate journals hold untold tales within their pages, stories waiting to be discovered. Regrettably, these priceless relics are at risk of being forgotten, for while humanity has been crafting and mending books since the dawn of writing, the noble art of bookbinding – the shield that safeguards the text of a book – is sadly on the verge of extinction.

Viewers of The Repair Shop might realize that everyday books hold valuable insights into our societal past, the makeup of our country, or global events. They carry equal importance as scholarly history texts found on a bookshelf.

Among all the items I’ve restored throughout my career, none has stayed as vividly in my memory as the Haggadah – a book that carries the names of survivors from Theresienstadt concentration camp – which was brought to our Repair Shop barn last year. It serves as a powerful testament of survival, an essential document of that era, and a cherished family heirloom. Since then, I’ve maintained contact with its owner, who is the grandson of two survivors himself. Remarkably, he has since traced every individual named in that list.

In the most recent episode of The Repair Shop, I dealt with a miniature diary owned by a woman residing in Guernsey during Nazi occupation. This captivating and enlightening war narrative was on the verge of disappearing until her grandson delivered it to our workshop.

This storybook, given to me a year ago, reveals hidden tales of war from an ordinary person’s viewpoint. The code-breaking cookbook, in particular, unveils clandestine wartime actions. The woman who shared it with us learned to bake the book’s lemon pudding and ginger parkin recipes alongside her grandmother as a child. It was after her grandmother, who deciphered German military messages at Bletchley Park during World War II, passed away that she discovered secret codes hidden within its pages.

Upon joining The Repair Shop in 2019, one goal I had was to shine a spotlight on bookbinding. It brings me joy when educators express that our show has sparked a new wave of students. However, the current classes face challenges such as being small, costly, and exclusive.

We face the challenge that many modern books are designed with an inherent expiration date, meant for recycling. It would be ideal if these books were manufactured more thoughtfully: avoiding printing too close to the left margin as it prevents them from opening fully and forces them apart can cause splitting. When a book gets worn out or neglected, there’s a higher chance it will end up being thrown away, potentially losing important or sentimental family records forever.

In simpler terms, my job is enjoyable with various work benefits. Sometimes, I may get absorbed in the content or artwork, leading to moments of distraction. Occasionally, errors can slip through, like the time I labeled a seven-volume set of naval history books as “navel.” Yet, I promptly learn from these mistakes and correct them.

Engaging in various crafts can enrich one’s spirit. It would be beneficial to motivate schoolchildren to personalize their exercise books by embellishing them. Bookbinding, even with the prevalence of technology today, is a thoughtful pursuit that I find myself doing on holidays like Christmas. Moreover, it has far-reaching implications. Encouraging children early may foster long-term interest. Bookbinding might initially seem challenging, but with practice, it becomes easier. Eventually, we could even preserve our family’s cherished artifacts through this craft.

Everyday objects hidden in attics or stored away in drawers can carry great worth, serving as tangible bridges connecting our past with the present. Unfortunately, this invaluable heritage is often overlooked and at risk of being lost. It’s crucial that we recognize and protect these treasures before they disappear forever.

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2025-08-26 03:09