Widower breaks down on The Repair Shop as he listens to the radio he bought with his late wife more than 60 years ago after taking it to The Repair Shop to have it fixed two years after it stopped working
- Albert Thompson and his fiancee Eileen bought a transistor radio in the 1950s
- It was a family favourite but broke two years ago, two years after Eileen’s death
- Albert, now in his 80s, brought the radio to The Repair Shop to be fixed
- He broke down in tears as he listened to ‘their song’ – and left viewers ‘in bits’
A widower broke down in tears on The Repair Shop after he was reunited with a radio that he had bought with his late wife.
Albert Thompson, then 22, and his fiancee Eileen spent 50 shillings (£2.50) on a portable transistor radio in the 1950s and the wireless became a poignant symbol of their love.
Speaking on last night’s episode, Albert explained the radio had stopped working two years ago – two years to the day after Eileen had died.
Albert Thompson broke down in tears on The Repair Shop after he was reunited with a radio that he had bought with his late wife. He became emotional when he picked it up, pictured
Albert, then 22, and his fiancee Eileen (pictured together) spent 50 shillings (£2.50) on a portable transistor radio in the 1950s and the wireless became a poignant symbol of their love
Viewers were left emotional as they watched Albert listen to ‘their song’ on the radio
‘I used to have it in the greenhouse with me,’ said Albert, ‘and two years ago it stopped – it was two years to the day after Eileen passed away. She was an absolute ace and I really do miss her.
‘This radio means so much to me and my family. I just don’t want to get rid of it. I want it to be working again.’
With Albert needing this most important link to his own personal past, four Repair Shop experts got to work. The circuitry was renewed, a new handle fitted, the case was cleaned and a new dial made.
Speaking on last night’s episode, Albert explained the radio had stopped working two years ago – two years to the day after Eileen had died. Pictured, the couple together
And when Albert returned, not only was it working, it was playing a very familiar tune, Roy Orbison’s Born To Love Me, thanks to the help of a local radio station
And when Albert returned, not only was it working, it was playing a very familiar tune, Roy Orbison’s Born To Love Me, thanks to the help of a local radio station.
‘We used to smooch to this at the last dance,’ he said with tears in his eyes. ‘I’m over the moon.’
The moment touched viewers at home who said they were left ‘crying’ over Albert and his story.
Viewers took to Twitter to share their emotions after the tear0jerking reunion
One tweeted: ‘I turned on #TheRepairShop just as the gentleman turned on the rejuvenated radio and I immediately cried and I’ve not stopped since.’
Another posted: ‘Well it gets me again. That radio repair on #therepairshop was a joy to see how it gave so much happiness.’
A third wrote: ‘Had a full on proper cry at the cute old man with the radio, lush TV #TheRepairShop.’