More than 80 items repaired at first ever Baughurst Repair Café in Heath End Village Hall
More than 80 broken but beloved household items were fixed at the first ever meeting of the Baughurst Repair Café.
The café is a community action group inspired by the TV programme The Repair Shop.
Café volunteers repair people’s broken household items while serving teas and coffees to those that visit.
The café’s first ervice kicked off in style on Sunday at Heath End Village Hall when it was officially opened by the Basingstoke and Deane mayor, David Leeks, and his mayoress Amanda, at 10am.
Mr Leeks presented first, second and third successful repair certificates to the owners to mark the beginning of the new community service.
Baughurst Repair Café chair Rosemarie Woo said: “We had a range of much-loved items to repair including an antique doll, a very old teddy that belong to the owner's mum, a moth-eaten alpaca jumper from Ecuador and an ornamental little wooden box that looks like a stack of books.
“We rang a bell whenever there was a successful repair which many thought was a nice touch.
“People clapped when they heard the bell ring.
“Quite a few people came to see what a repair café was all about and said they would come to our next event on Sunday, January 21, with items to repair.
“Others came and were so inspired by what we were doing that they offered to join as volunteer repairers.”
Café members can fix a variety of items such as electrical appliances, electronic devices, textiles, fabrics, toys, wooden furniture, IT equipment, bicycles and jewellery.
The café also offers tool sharpening as well as IT and mobile phone advice and troubleshooting.
The most popular services on Sunday were electrical repairs and tool sharpening.
Those interested in finding out more about the repair café and booking in a slot for January should visit its website at https://baughurstrc.uk/ or email baughurstrepaircafe@hotmail.com
Repairs are free but a donation would be appreciated by the community group to cover its costs.
