‘Sustainabilty in action’ as repair café returns
Volunteers fix a wide variety of broken appliances in Thatcham
This really is sustainability in action
A MUCH-loved repair café has returned to Thatcham.
The first edition of the new and improved Newbury and Thatcham Repair Café – formerly West Berkshire Repair Café – came back to Newbury in late February.
And now it has returned to Thatcham too.
Visitors welcomed in the returning event by taking their broken items to the Frank Hutchings Hall on March 24.
Skilled fixers mended a variety of items from toasters and food mixers to lamps, shredders, sewing machines and even vacuum cleaners and a lawnmower.
Clipper blades, shears, scissors, secateurs and cutters were all efficiently sharpened by volunteers who had their work cut out for the morning.
Items were restored that had been owned by people for a long time, from a ‘flapper’ necklace which the owner hadn’t been able to wear for years to a well-used radio whose owner was “thrilled” to have it working again.
Treasured soft toys were patched by textile repairers and a grandmother brought a wooden horse trike that her son used when he was a child.
The neck was stiff and wouldn’t move, but the repair was successful and the owner was “very pleased with the result” which her grandson can now enjoy.
West Berkshire Council chairman Jeremy Cottam was in attendance with mayor and mayoress of Thatcham Mark and Jenny Lillycrop.
Mr Lillycrop said: “It was good to see so many people turning up to the first Thatcham Repair Café with their power tools, vacuum cleaners, electronic devices, garments and kitchen gadgets, hoping to get them repaired.
“This really is sustainability in action.
“A big thank you to the organisers and to all the skilled volunteers who rose to the challenge and gave people’s treasured possessions a new lease of life.
“I can’t wait for the next one.”
The repair café will be back in Thatcham at the Frank Hutchings Community Hall on Sunday, June 2, from 10am to 12.30pm.
It will be in Newbury too, at the earlier date of Sunday, April 28, from 2pm to 4.30pm.