A cherished memento from childhood has been brought back to life by the stars of BBC's The Repair Shop with another incredible restoration. Its wheel is dented and rusted its saddle is lost and its wobbly pedals are long past their best. But this tired unicycle is a cherished memento of childhood for siblings Steven and Paula Prentice and they felt only The Repair Shop could restore it.
It took a starring role on stage with their grandparents Lila and Cecil and then parents Dorothy and Peter well known unicycle and rope-spinning acts from the 1920s to the 1970s.The El Granadas and Peter performed at the London Palladium and the Moulin Rouge in Paris and shared the bill with showbiz legends such as Judy Garland. Steven and Paulas mum Dorothy now 94 gave her precious prop to her children be kept for future generations. So when it was unearthed looking worse for wear they contacted top restorers from the hit BBC show.
Paula 67 said Steven found the unicycle in my cellar and we were upset about the state it was in.I worried I would disrespected my parents by not looking after it it was a symbol of their life.Paula and Steven who also have a brother called Richard 68 see the unicycle as a reminder of their unusual upbringing. They travelled across Britain and Europe while their parents performed.
Their mum a dancer met their father when both performed in Blackpool aged 17. Dorothy joined his family act and learned the unicycle which she rode while cracking ropes and spinning ribbons. Steven 71 said It was hard for Mum with three young kids being in theatre in Southampton one night and Glasgow the next. In the end they settled in Deal Kent so we could go to school. My dad ran an entertainment company and did not want me to go in to the business. He refused to teach me to ride the unicycle.
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