Fixing a broken toy was child’s play at the first Stortford Repair Café.
Thanks to volunteer Roger Wise’s hard work, seven-year-old Bobby Buck’s Sheriff Woody doll is back in one piece.
The Pixar character was brought to the repair café at the Emmaus Centre at the Church of St James the Great, Thorley, by mum Bethan.
More than 50 people pre-booked appointments on Saturday to have a broken item investigated by a team of more than 20 skilled volunteers.
Roger was forewarned and brought a heavy-duty cable tie to reattach Woody’s head, reinforced with superglue and stitching.
As he got to grips with the operation, Bethan said: “Bobby will be so, so happy if he can be repaired. He has all the Toy Story characters and Buzz Lightyear is waiting at home for his friend.”
She was thrilled when the surgery was a success and updated theIndie this week: “My son is so happy and I’m very grateful, especially to Roger who worked tirelessly on Woody.
“The repair café is a great resource and will help to stop landfill, especially as it’s important we are more environmentally conscious as a society.”
Resident Lyn Farrell is behind the project. She was inspired by Sawbridgeworth’s successful repair café and secured funding from Bishop’s Stortford Town Council in the form of a Brazier Trust grant to cover the start-up costs for Stortford’s.
The aim is to save money by repairing and reusing broken items and to save the planet by reducing the rubbish sent to landfill.
Bishop’s Stortford Climate Group is backing the initiative and members were thrilled by the turnout, with all 54 repair slots snapped up in advance.
The team specialises in fixing textiles, electrical items, mechanical goods, bikes, IT and small wooden items.
Challenges for the repairers on Saturday included a broken lawnmower, bicycles, clothing, a toaster, a food mixer, a hairdryer and a cuckoo clock.
As they worked their magic, guests and volunteers alike tucked into homemade cakes and hot drinks courtesy of volunteer caterers.
Faye Cornell took a vintage radiogram for Ian Jolley to cast his expert eye over. The retired engineer, with a wealth of experience in broadcasting, radio and television, is a veteran of Sawbridgeworth’s repair café .
The wooden cabinet containing a radio and record player belonged to Faye’s grandfather Leslie Wood, who lived in Benhooks Avenue and passed away in 2004. She said: “He knew I loved it – it had a really good bassy sound.”
Unfortunately, the turntable began running slow and the radiogram had been languishing in her study, untouched for the past seven years.
Retired electrician Ian Slocombe is in charge of PAT (portable appliance testing). He checks each electrical item for safety before it is examined by a volunteer fixer and again before it is taken home.
He is a veteran of The Exchange at the Baptist Church in Twyford Road, where he has vetted more than 600 household items before they go to a family or individual in need.
Saturday’s three-hour session was such a success that Lyn and her team are already considering finding a larger venue in a more central location.
All repairs are free, but donations are welcome to fund the project. The next café is scheduled for July but the date has not yet been confirmed. For more details see https://www.stortfordrepaircafe.org/home.
*All pictures by Gerred Gilronan.