This is Irene’s touching story

“I first came in contact with Richard earlier this year when he restored a badly damaged photograph that I wanted to include in my autobiography.  Over the years it had been folded in half, ‘mended’ with sticky tape and was in a really bad state.  Richard restored it beautifully and it is now scanned onto my writing.

Later, while reading Richard’s blog, I came across Lucy’s story, how she had asked him to restore and combine two photographs in order to create one of her parents and grandparents.  This started me thinking of my own parents and the fact that I had never seen a photograph of them together.  My father was in the Royal Navy serving on HMS Achates on the Russian Arctic Convoys.  He was lost at sea during the Battle of the Barents’ Sea when I was two and my brother just six months old.   Sadly, my parents had just over three years together and my brother and I never had the chance to know our father.  We always wanted a photograph of our parents together and over the years did everything we could to find one, even trawling the Internet but to no avail.  I really wanted one not just for my dedication page but also to hang on the wall at home.

I had a photograph of Dad in his uniform and a rather blurry snap of Mum taken with my gran, aunty and grandad.  The two photographs were taken 13 years apart but I asked Richard if he could somehow create a photograph of my parents together, not knowing if this would be possible. Well, his expertise took over and soon I experienced the absolute thrill of seeing my parents together in the same frame.  The time difference didn’t matter as seeing my parents together was priceless and very emotional.  I’m not usually lost for words but I was when I saw the photograph for the first time.  Richard set it in a beautiful black frame and I ordered another one for my brother as a surprise gift.

Dad and Mum Together At Last

When he saw the photograph, my brother, too, was absolutely delighted.  Thanks to Richard’s skill and expertise, we have something we always wanted but never really thought possible.  My children are so pleased, calling it spectacular and special.   Now, when I arrive home and open the door, I see my parents – together again.  Thank you so much, Richard, for making a dream into a reality and for your dedication, professionalism and kindness.”