BBC The Repair Shop's Brenton West vows to 'pull out the stops' after learning emotional backstory
Brenton West was given a mammoth task
BBC
During a repeat episode of The Repair Shop tonight, Brenton West left one guest and his stepson speechless and reduced to tears after he managed to restore a garden ornament.
Quentin Long and his stepson Tim Stockwell entered the barn with the hopes of West being able to restore a rusted bee which had been given to Long by his grandson Miles.
Placing the garden feature on the table, Long explained: "It's a garden bee ornament bought for me by my grandson, Miles, Tim's son. He bought it for me and brought it around, and he used to call me Gramps. So this is Grand Bee.
"It's been out in the garden since he bought it in 2014 and of course it being tin, it's just the elements have got to, and that's that. But it is very, very special. Urm... the reason is," however, Long was unable to continue speaking and broke down in tears.
Stockwell took the lead and continued: "About 18 months ago, Miles was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, which is a very, very aggressive bone cancer, and subsequently had his leg amputated. And he was a really sport kid so it was...
"It was horrible to see him go through, but he did it like everything he did in life, with gusto and full on and 'I am going to beat this'. Unfortunately, he lost the battle with cancer. He was 15..."
The bee had rusted and fallen apart
BBC
Pulling himself together, Quentin added: "Just over three-and-a-half months ago, bless his heart. I just want people to know and to be aware of what Miles went through. He was a tremendous kid and if that can highlight and help anybody else, brilliant. But this is just for Miles.
"When he was a littlun, he was with us nearly every day, and we used to pick him up from school and you just bond more and more don't you? Every time he went to sport, I was with him."
Stockwell revealed that Miles was the captain of the Whitstable football team, before moving to the Kent League - also having a passion for roller hockey since he was nine and becoming national champions with his team.
Speaking about what he wanted from West, Long said: "When he first bought it, it was a garden ornament which I loved, and now it's become the most important thing in my life. I'd like Brenton to make it brand new for me. All back together again."
Quentin Long broke down in tears when he saw the restored bee
BBC
Saying goodbye to Long and Stockwell, Brenton took the bee and explained: "Wow. I've got to make this beautiful for them, haven't I? It's going to be a bit tricky. I can't conceive what it feels like to lose a child of that age. And Quentin and Tim were so brave to come and tell us their story.
"So I'm going to pull out all the stops and make this bee look as good as I can for Quentin because I know what it means to him. This bee is made from tin plate which is basically mild steel. It is very, very frail.
"I'd love to be able to save some of this paint, but the rust has got right in under there, it's everywhere, and I wouldn't be able to clean that paint up properly and repaint it without it re-rusting almost straight away."
After sandblasting the bee and repainting the whole thing, he showed the camera one final look before Long and Stockwell returned and said: "I hope at some stage that this can bring a smile to Quentin's face.
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Brenton West managed to bring the bee back to life
BBC
"I know he's deeply sad at the moment, but he will see this every day, and I'm hoping in the future this will make him really, really happy."
Unveiling the bee, Long broke down in tears and exclaimed: "It just holds so many memories for me, it really does. Oh... That is brill! That is absolutely brill. That's fantastic, thank you so much!"
"I can't believe it. You have done us proud," Stockwell added before West said: "I can imagine you'll see it every day when you..."
Long interjected and revealed: "Oh, where it's going, it is going in a plant that Miles bought me and every time I go out it will be there looking at me."
Walking out of the barn, Long added: "Oh yes, without a doubt! Thank you very much and a fantastic job. Looking at the bee in this condition reminds me of the day that Miles gave it to me, it definitely is a piece of Miles, a little bit of Miles and it's lovely because I know that he has handled this and that means the world to be."