We have some pretty amazing people in the Repair Cafe Wales Family
As part of a new initiative we will be running a series on getting to know our volunteers. We’ve set a series of questions and our amazing volunteers have answered them ‘virtually’ for us.
Next up in the series is Peter from Presteigne.
Q:What is your name, which repair café location do you volunteer at and what’s your role / skill?
A: Peter Wright, Presteigne repair café, Fixer, Heath and Safety coordinator. Mainly mechanical repairs as the repair café is well supported by electrical and electronic Fixers.
Q: Why did you decide to volunteer with Repair Cafe Wales?
A: My father always repaired everything, especially when we lived in the Sudan. I have grown up making and repairing things, and became a mechanical engineer. I especially enjoy diagnosing faults and their causes.
Q: What do you like best about the repair café?
A: Tremendous atmosphere and great fun. Satisfaction in pleasing someone who has brought in a valued object for repair. It is a great opportunity to meet new people locally.
Q: What is your favourite part of volunteering?
A: Talking to owners of faulty objects, and finding out what it means to them and its history. Finding out what the problem is.
Q: What has been the most challenging item to repair?
A: Mending an umbrella that had belonged to the mother of a pensioner. While not an expensive umbrella, it had great sentimental value. Three spokes required replacing, by splicing in spokes from another damaged umbrella.
Q: What do you think the repair café does for the community?
A: It has great social value, and teaches people that most things can be repaired at almost no cost, and do not required throwing away and replacing.
Q: Have you gained any skills from the experience?
A: Patience?
Q: How does the repair café make you feel?
A: Very satisfied; amused; I always look forward to the next session.
Q: Would you recommend volunteering for Repair Cafe Wales? Why?
A: Yes! For the fun and satisfaction gained in make and contribution to the community.
