What did I miss?
The repair shop was introduced to a surprising piece of wartime history when a guest brought in his grandmother’s handwritten recipe book containing hidden codes from her work during World War II.
Guest Claire Vassiloulis had fond memories of baking with her late grandmother Jean, but in recent years she discovered that her old recipe book was actually a hiding place for her secret wartime work. I noticed that.
The episode also featured a wicker horse head mask, which was rated “creepy” by viewers.
What, how and why?
On this week’s episode of the BBC One show, Claire Vassiloulis brings along her favorite cookbook that belonged to her late grandmother Jean. For her, this cookbook brought back fond memories of when she was a child and they baked cakes together.
However, after her grandmother passed away in 2012, Vassiloulis discovered that the handwritten recipe book actually contained codes from Jean’s time as a member of the Wrens, a group of women who served in the Royal Navy during World War II. I noticed that it was included.
Gene was only 18 when he joined the Wrens and was working on breaking codes sent to Bletchley Park. Her notebook contained recipes for things like Christmas cake and ginger parkin, along with short codes and Japanese codes.
Her proud granddaughter said: “She couldn’t say anything because she signed a secrecy act. We knew she belonged to the Wrens, but what she was doing was… I didn’t know it was that clever.”
“I just can’t believe what I’m seeing…cookbooks, spy books,” book restorer Christopher Shaw said as he began the arduous task of repairing the pages.
Vassiloulis was overjoyed to see the repairs, and said, “She’s just the grandmother in the book. She’s just sitting in the kitchen, holding her little finger up and being with her.”
“There are two parts to her life. She was always baking, and she was coding before she baked. The fact that it was hidden in the recipe shows how secret it is. It shows how warm it is.”
1 viewer I commented on X: “Ginger Parkin’s books are simply sensational!”
someone else Added: “I am amazed every week by the talent and ingenuity of our repairers.”
another person I have written: “Great job #BookbinderShaw on the old recipe/code book on tonight’s show!”
What else happened at the repair shop?
This episode also featured items that may seem a little spooky to some viewers.
Two of the village festival performers brought in wicker horse heads that had been used in better days. The repairs were impressive, but when the guests wore horse masks and started dancing at the end of the episode, viewers compared it to a classic horror movie. The Wicker Man.
1 viewer made a joke: “It’s not creepy”, as others Added: “It’s giving me a creepy Wicker Man vibe.” Another viewer commented: “I’ve seen horses going somewhere before #wickerman.”
The Repair Shop airs Wednesdays at 8pm on BBC One.
