Renowned furniture restorer Will Kirk, best known for his work on BBC’s The Repair Shop, visited Farnham last week as the guest star of an event celebrating the art of restoration and repair.

With one of the country’s oldest repair cafes, Farnham has established itself as a hub for the repair movement—an initiative that encourages people to fix broken objects and appliances rather than discard them in landfill.

Kirk’s visit to Farnham Maltings on Thursday, March 13, as part of Farnham Literary Festival, reinforced this movement, drawing an enthusiastic audience keen to engage with the principles of restoration.

The event, attended by the Mayor of Farnham, Cllr Brodie Mauluka, and other civic leaders, also marked the 10th anniversary of the Farnham Repair Cafe (FRC). It featured presentations from other repair experts, celebrating the cafe’s impact on the community.

Kirk opened the evening by discussing his Sunday Times bestseller, Restore, and sharing career highlights, including some of his most memorable restorations.

Reflecting on one particularly emotional moment from The Repair Shop, he said: “Years ago, there was a rocking horse that came in and a lady’s husband had restored back it in the 1980s. Underneath the saddle, he had signed his name and she hadn’t seen that since the 1980s.

“She brought this rocking horse in and Suzie (Fletcher) made a new saddle for it, one you could take off. Anyway she came to pick it up and saw his writing there - floods of tears.”

Professor Martin Charter, chairman and founder of the Farnham Repair Cafe, then took the stage to discuss the history of the award-winning organisation.

He highlighted how the cafe recently reached its 10-year milestone and was honoured with the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of its dedicated volunteers.

Much like Kirk’s work on The Repair Shop, the cafe has become a symbol of the power of restoration, with volunteers helping residents repair everything from electrical items to old clothing. Prof Charter later led a panel discussion with FRC trustees and volunteers, emphasising the cafe’s vital role in the community and its alignment with the growing sustainability and repair movement.

The evening concluded with a presentation by Dr Stephen Knott from the University for the Creative Arts’ (UCA) Crafts Study Centre. He provided a scholarly perspective on the importance of repair, underscoring its increasing relevance in a world where sustainability and waste reduction are pressing concerns.

Kirk’s visit not only celebrated the work of Farnham’s repair community but also reinforced the value of restoration—proving that object can be cherished and preserved for future generations.