Banbury area business 'giving back' with restoration projects for the NHS

Banbury's own local version of the The Repair Shop from the BBC has launched a scheme to show appreciation for the NHS staff in the community.
By Matt Elofson
Published 25th Feb 2021, 11:21 BST

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The finished restored table completed by Nathan Allan, who runs Restoration Station Banbury. The restoration was completed for a NHS worker from BanburyThe finished restored table completed by Nathan Allan, who runs Restoration Station Banbury. The restoration was completed for a NHS worker from Banbury
The finished restored table completed by Nathan Allan, who runs Restoration Station Banbury. The restoration was completed for a NHS worker from Banbury

Nathan Allan, who started The Restoration Station earlier in the pandemic as a second business venture, just completed his first restoration project for an area NHS staff member as part of the scheme.

Nathan, who is also a professional photographer, said: "I have been very lucky to learn many skills over the years from clock repair to French polishing and can turn my hand to repairing most things.

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"Because this new business has been such a success, and people have been so great in supporting me, I would like to give something back. I thought it would be nice, each month, to offer to repair or restore an item for a worthy person or cause, for free."

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The unfinished table which needed restored by Nathan Allan, who runs Restoration Station Banbury. The restoration was completed for a NHS worker from BanburyThe unfinished table which needed restored by Nathan Allan, who runs Restoration Station Banbury. The restoration was completed for a NHS worker from Banbury
The unfinished table which needed restored by Nathan Allan, who runs Restoration Station Banbury. The restoration was completed for a NHS worker from Banbury

The restoration scheme includes nominations from people in the community and an automatic entry to anyone from the NHS.

People who want to nominate someone either from the NHS or someone in need from the community can send Nathan a message through his Restoration Station Facebook page. He can be contacted through page's web link here: https://www.facebook.com/restorationstationbanburyAs a photographer, Nathan has built a reputation for close attention to detail and a creative mindset. His skills include French polishing, welding and forging as well as brazing, soldering and building hand-crafted replica models and working railway sets. He will use his experience and apply them to a range of projects including, but not limited to, clock repairs and servicing; metal work and classic vehicle repairs.

For more information also see the Restoration Station website here: https://www.therestorationstation.co.uk/Nathan recently completed the first project in the scheme which involved the restoration of a special table for a Banbury man who works for the NHS.

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He said: "They had a small table that had got very run down over the years and wanted to know if I could restore it.

An example of other items restored by Nathan Allan at the Restoration Station Banbury.An example of other items restored by Nathan Allan at the Restoration Station Banbury.
An example of other items restored by Nathan Allan at the Restoration Station Banbury.

"I stripped down the unit and removed any damage it had to the steel work. It was then resprayed in the colour of their choice. Finally, it had several coats of lacquer to preserve it for the future.

Pradeep Goel, who is from Banbury but works as an advanced practitioner at a GP surgery in Oxford, was very grateful for Nathan's help.

He said: "Nathan did a remarkable job.

"It is an antique looking special table that my partner had for several years. She was pretty attached to it. Over the years it has lot of scratches and marks of wear and tear

"It looks lovely and brand new. He did the restoration free of charge. I appreciate his gesture for me as a NHS staff."

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