The Repair Shop's Mark Stuckey leaves grieving son in tears as he hears late dad sing again: 'Just mind-blowing'
Michael Whitehead brought his dad's old reel-to-reel recorder in to be fixed…
The Repair Shop tonight sees electronics expert Mark Stuckey breathe new life into a retro audio device containing a recording of one customer’s late dad singing.
Michael Whitehead from Lancashire is the last person to walk into the tent tonight (April 1). And his Repair Shop story ends on a pretty emotional note…
The Repair Shop tonight: Michael brings in his late dad’s reel-to-reel recorder
“This is actually my dad’s old reel-to-reel recorder,” Michael explained, before revealing that his late dad used the device to learn lyrics during his days as a performer.
He explained that his dad Alan – who went by the stage name of Alan Curtis – used to sing in the pubs and clubs of Greater Manchester. Songs by crooners such as Neil Diamond and Frank Sinatra were what Michael best remembers his dad performing.
Opening up about seeing him sing live as a youngster, Michael said: “Hearing him hit those notes and people applauding, just the sense of pride, and he was just so humble about it.”
‘When Dad passed away, the music died’
He then explained that his dad stopped singing in the late 1970s. “When Dad passed away, the music died that day. It was after he passed away and we were doing a clear out and it was just sat on the floor in the corner of the wardrobe.”
“So did you try it?” asked Mark. “I did,” Michael replied. “And what happened?” “Nothing,” he confirmed sadly. “Not even a light or a move of the needle, nothing,” he added, before revealing that it probably stopped working in the 1980s.
Mark then asked if he knew what was on the tape that was threaded into the machine. Michael said he was unsure, but he thought the song I Understand by Freddie and the Dreamers was on the tape.
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‘That’s my dad… that’s him’
Later in the show, Michael returned, and said he was “anxious” for the reveal.
As the cloth was removed, Michael declared: “Wow! That looks like it did in the 1980s. Wow.”
“Switch it on,” Mark urged.
As he did, the sound of his dad singing I Understand rang out across the barn.
“That’s my dad,” said Michael tearfully. “That’s him.”
He wiped away tears as he pressed the stop button on the audio recording device. “Wow, it just sounds great. I couldn’t imagine a more haunting song to be on there, it just blows me away, it really does,” he said.
“He’s left you a special gift behind,” said Mark. “I think so too. It’s just brought back so much… thoughts of just being young, fun, and a happy place. To have my dad on there, it’s just mind-blowing, it’s just amazing.”
Read more: The Repair Shop’s Will Kirk reunites veterans with memorial damaged by vandals
