Emma MacLennan brought her late son Alex Ward's Cretan lyra to The Repair Shop for restoration, according to multiple reports. Becky Houghton, a luthier on the show, restored the lyra to full functionality, the program confirmed. According to reports, the guest was rendered speechless after experts restored the cherished family heirloom.
Alex Ward had motor neurone disease, which ended his ability to play the lyra before his death in 2020 at age 31, multiple sources indicate. According to Daily Express - Showbiz, Emma MacLennan described how her son learned to play the Cretan lyra himself after ordering it in 2013. The lyra was damaged when something fell on it, according to reports, though the specific nature of the damage remains unclear.
He just loved the music, so he was keen to learn to play, and that's why in 2013 he ordered this and just taught himself.
Emma MacLennan and her daughter Katerina were emotional and lost for words upon seeing the restored lyra, major media reported. According to BBC News - England, Emma MacLennan described being amazed at the restoration, calling it something that seemed incredible and very difficult to accomplish. The restored lyra was performed with a song depicting a man singing to his mother from beyond the grave, though the title of that song has not been disclosed.
Motor neurone disease causes worsening muscle weakness, is typically life-shortening, and has no known cure, according to NHS information. According to BBC News - England, Emma MacLennan described MND as a dreadful disease that takes everything away, leaving a person trapped in a body that doesn't respond.
He lost the ability to use his hands. He couldn't walk, and so he had to stop playing. It's inevitably fatal.
The lyra is now at Emma MacLennan's house, waiting for her grandson to play it when older, and other family members have discussed learning it, major media reported. The exact age of her grandson has not been revealed. Emma MacLennan said the restoration made her feel as if they were somehow restoring Alex, according to Daily Express - Showbiz. She explained that her son was broken by his disease, but now something that meant a lot to him was back and functioning, and could give voice to him again.
The episode featuring this story airs on BBC One at 20:00 BST on Wednesday, though the exact date has not been specified. There are no confirmed plans for public exhibitions or performances with the restored lyra.
Alex was 31 when we lost him... Yeah, we lost him in 2020. But really, he played it as long as he had the ability to play, which is why it's quite an important item for our family. Sadly, something fell on it and it bust. Restoring it will make us almost feel as if we're somehow restoring Alex in some way.
It's amazing. You can't tell at all. Thank you, Becky... Just wonderful.
The choice of song was so emotional and so perfect.
He was broken by his disease, but now something that meant a lot to him was back and functioning, and could give voice to him again.
I was amazed at the fact that they could restore it. It's frankly something that seemed incredible to me. A very difficult thing to accomplish.
It's a really dreadful disease that takes everything away from you. You're just the same person, just you're trapped in a body that doesn't respond to anything. So, our precious son – who we absolutely adored, he was our best friend to all of us – we just watched him being tortured with his disease.