The Repair Shop guest breaks down in tears recounting ‘lioness’ single mum’s sacrifice
ON Wednesday night’s episode of The Repair Shop, guest Rachel brought her beloved childhood bear Fred for the Teddy Bear Ladies to repair.
Rachel recounted details of her childhood to them as she talked about how her single mum Angela worked hard to give her things like clothes and toys, such as Fred, even at the expense of herself.
During this week’s episode of The Repair Shop, guest Rachel met with Julie Tatchell and Andrea Middlemarch, who are collectively known as the Teddy Bear Ladies, hoping that they would be able to work their magic on her childhood teddy, Fred.
The well-loved bear was looking worse for wear as Rachel explained she’s had him for decades as she was a gift from her mum when she was five years old.
Explaining his origin, Rachel said: “I’ve had him for over 30 years now. My mum took me to the zoo when I was about five and a moose came out and frightened me, so I dropped my teddy and left my teddy behind.
“So my mum had to find an alternative. So I remember opening this hamper, and Freddie was inside. He looked so cool, and instantly I just fell in love with him.
“I think the thing that hit me the most was the excitement of a bear that I could change and dress up and he almost looked like a whole bear and then he became a bear bear,” she recalled.
Rachel then detailed a bit more about what Fred was like when he was new, before opening up about the sacrifices her mum made for her when she was a child.
She said: “He had a lovely jacket that matched the same fur as his face and he had bottoms that were held up by braces.”
Amanda then asked, “Can you tell us about your mum?”
Rachel replied: “She’s a single mum … two of us running around. She did everything.
“I remember her pulling us up hills in our rollerblades, taking us to the park, teaching us to ride.”
Rachel began to break down in tears as she spoke. She explained: “She brought us up, it was hard.”
“She did everything, not buying clothes for herself to put clothes on us and ensuring we went to uni…”
Julie and Amanda were overcome with emotion as Rachel spoke. She continued: “And she’s strong, but very gentle and very quiet.
“But when it comes to us, she’s like a lioness. She’s my heroine.”
“What does she think about Fred coming here today?” Julie asked in response.
“Oh, she’s ecstatic because she knows how much I love that bear. He’s always on my bed and she goes, ‘Rachel, you’re in your 30s.’”
After the exchange, Rachel left Fred in Julie and Amanda’s care, hoping they could work their magic on him.
The restoration was challenging, but the Teddy Bear Ladies were able to pull it off and he’d been completely transformed by the time Rachel saw him again.
They added to his features, replace his eyes, and made him new clothes like the teddy bear jacket Rachel had for him when she was young.
Rachel was in awe when she saw him again.
“Oh, he’s got his eyes! And His head is not falling off. I can’t believe it!” Rachel gushed.
“I can’t stop smiling!” she added.
The Repair Shop continues next Wednesday at 8pm on BBC One.