A guest on the beloved BBC One programme The Repair Shop was visibly moved to tears following a remarkable restoration of an electric piano that once belonged to his musical hero. The keyboard, which had been left covered in what were described as 'battle scars' from years of touring and recording, was returned to working order in a recent episode, leaving its owner overwhelmed with emotion.
The Historic Instrument and Its Significance
The electric piano in question originally belonged to Dave Greenfield, the legendary keyboard player for the iconic punk and new wave band The Stranglers. Greenfield, who passed away in May 2020, used this very instrument to record some of the band's biggest hits, including the classic track No More Heroes. Over hundreds of gigs, the keyboard accumulated marks and wear, each telling a story of the band's storied career.
A Personal Connection and Emotional Journey
Toby Hounsham, the current keyboardist for The Stranglers, brought the instrument to the Repair Shop studio located at the Weald and Downland Living Museum in West Sussex. He explained to expert restorer David Burville that Dave Greenfield had been his hero and inspiration for taking up the keyboards himself. 'This is the actual keyboard he recorded all the big hits,' Toby recounted, 'He would've toured with it for hundreds and hundreds of gigs, hence all of these battle scars. Every mark on here tells a story.'
Toby first met Greenfield at an after-show party in the 1990s, after achieving some fame with his own band, Rialto. Following Greenfield's death, Toby was invited to join The Stranglers and was subsequently gifted this historic keyboard. 'As a consequence of being the keyboard player in The Stranglers, I was presented with his original keyboard,' he shared, leaving David Burville speechless.
The Restoration Process and Emotional Reveal
While Toby was keen to preserve the keyboard's character and 'battle scars', he hoped experts could restore its functionality. With the assistance of electrics specialist Mark Stuckey, David Burville undertook the meticulous repair work. When Toby returned to collect the keyboard later in the episode, he was shocked and moved by the transformation.
Fighting back tears, Toby exclaimed, 'Oh! Wow! I'm a bit speechless, actually. That's incredible. We had a conversation about preserving the character and not just making it a brand-new one and you've done that perfectly. I'm speechless.' He went on to thank the team profusely, adding, 'Guys, I can't thank you enough. What you've done here is incredible. It's blown my mind, thank you.'
To demonstrate the restoration, Toby played parts of No More Heroes and another Stranglers hit, Golden Brown, on the keyboard. 'He recorded all the iconic songs and played them live on these keys!' an excited Toby declared. He concluded by noting, 'It plays like a new keyboard, but it's kept all the character and all the marks, and I'd like to think that Dave would approve.'
Another Heartwarming Tale from The Repair Shop
In the same episode, viewers were also treated to another emotional story involving a cherished stuffed animal named Wappy. Guest Robert brought the toy, which he had owned since being born prematurely in 1974, hoping for a restoration. Accompanied by his sister Chris, he shared how Wappy had been a constant companion through difficult times, including numerous operations.
The Teddy Bear Ladies, Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch, carefully washed, repaired, and reassembled Wappy, much to Robert's delight upon reunion. This segment further highlighted the show's ability to breathe new life into items of deep personal significance, resonating with fans across the UK.
The Repair Shop continues to captivate audiences with its blend of skilled craftsmanship and heartfelt narratives, airing Wednesdays on BBC One and available for streaming on iPlayer.
