Mark Potter

Technology & General Repairer

What he does:

Mark is one of our tech volunteers, here to help with everything from IT support to unusual household gadgets. He’s tackled drones, clocks, roti bread skillets, and steamer pans—all in a single session—and enjoys solving problems that fall outside the box. Alongside his technical knowledge, he’s especially good at explaining things clearly, helping people understand both what’s wrong and how to prevent future issues.

Top tip:

“Ask the question! Keep asking until you’re comfortable with the explanation.”

Don’t be afraid to speak up—tech shouldn’t be intimidating.

Fun fact:

Mark once tackled a drone, a clock, a roti bread skillet, and a steamer pan all in one session. He’s always ready for the unexpected.

Why he volunteers:

Mark believes that even when something can’t be fixed, offering solid advice and keeping people safe is still a win.

Paul Worth

Co-Founder and Electrical Repairer

What he does:

Paul is a chartered engineer who has been repairing and creating for as long as he can remember—starting with building Scalextric track extensions as a child. Since then, he’s fixed everything from toys and tools to vintage hi-fi systems and now focuses on electrical repairs at our events.

Top tip:

Paul volunteers with REMAP Leicester and Rutland, where he designs custom adaptations to help people with disabilities overcome everyday challenges. His advice? The best repairs don’t just make something work again—they make life easier, safer, or more joyful.

Fun fact:

Paul doesn’t just fix things—he invents them too. He’s spent much of his career designing clever solutions across a wide range of industries.

Why he volunteers:

As a founding trustee, Paul worked incredibly hard to build The Fix It Group 23 from the ground up. He’s now stepped back from leadership but remains a key volunteer and team lead at our Bradgate Arms events.

Phil and Sarah Hughes

Front of House

What they do:

Sarah and Phil are the welcoming team at the repair café—signing in visitors, logging items, and matching them with the right fixer. They also triage unusual items to save people waiting unnecessarily. Sarah occasionally joins the sewing table, while Phil brings his NHS admin skills to keep things organised.

Top tip:

“If it’s already broken, you might as well try to fix it—what harm can you do?”

Fun fact:

Sarah first came in with a vintage Singer sewing machine. She and Phil loved the vibe so much, they joined the team—and now proudly call themselves part-Womble.

Why they volunteer:

They believe in repairing over replacing, and love being part of a community that learns, shares, and helps keep stuff out of landfill.

Graham Law

Electrical Repairer

What he does:

You’ll find Graham on the Electrical Desk at both our Mountsorrel and Bradgate Arms events. Always up for a challenge (and a laugh), he’s happy to look at anything from toasters and DAB radios to sewing machines, power tools, and “all sorts of oddball things.” If it plugs in—or winds up—he’s likely to give it a go.

Top tip:

“If wobbling it makes it work, it’s probably a loose connection—and we’ve got a good shot at fixing it.”

Fun fact:

Graham used to lead technical services at the National Space Centre. So yes, he’s fully qualified to handle your cassette deck and your satellite dish.

Why he volunteers:

He enjoys the puzzle of figuring out faults, and he also supports Remap—an organisation that builds custom equipment for people with disabilities.

Marilyn Cunningham

Textile Repairer

What she does:

Marilyn is part of our sewing team at the Mountsorrel Repair Café. Armed with a machine that can sew through two layers of leather, she’s ready to tackle all kinds of fabric fixes—from hemming trousers and repairing waistbands to stitching up cushions and giving well-loved teddies a new lease of life.

Top tip:

You don’t need to be an expert to sew—there are loads of easy-to-follow tutorials on YouTube and TikTok. And tools like Supermend make simple repairs even easier!

Fun fact:

Marilyn’s current passion is making Barbie clothes—tiny garments with big personality!

Why she volunteers:

She’s always learning new sewing tricks and loves helping others keep cherished items in use. She and her husband Nick joined after hearing about the group through a family connection—and haven’t looked back.

Ian Shonk

General Repairer

What he does:

Ian runs the Miscellaneous Desk at our Mountsorrel Repair Café—where “if it’s broken, we want to see it!” From animated toys and scooters to picture frames and even a cast bronze crab, Ian tackles the odd and unusual with creativity, care, and a good dose of humour. No two items are ever the same, and that’s exactly how he likes it.

Top tip:

“If you’re going to bin it anyway, taking the cover off first isn’t going to lose you anything!”

Fun fact:

Ian also runs Mr Shonk’s Wand Emporium and tells tall tales at the local library with his storytelling sidekick, Tigger.

Why he volunteers:

He loves the challenge of one-of-a-kind repairs and the chance to inspire others to “have a go.” He also supports the local community through volunteering and his role with the Mountsorrel Community Team.

Nicholas and Janet Smith

Sewing Machine & Textile Repairers

What they do:

Nick specialises in sewing machine repairs—fixing everything from broken foot pedals to tension issues—while Janet brings her seamstress skills to the sewing table. Together, they’ve tackled issues like stiff mechanisms, worn spool winders, missing screws, and more. Janet also runs final test stitches to check everything is in top shape.

Top tip:

If you’re bringing a sewing machine, bring the manual too—different makes vary a lot, and it can really help.

Fun fact:

Janet once made master patterns for industrial production, and Nick’s also known for helping with blade sharpening when needed.

Why they volunteer:

They love helping people extend the life of well-loved tools and textiles. When they’re not with us, they volunteer with groups like Transition Loughborough and the Charnwood Eco Hub—and have even supported repair cafés as far away as Wales.

Phil Bass

IT & Software Repairer

What he does:

Phil helps with a wide range of everyday IT issues—like slow laptops, Wi-Fi dropouts, and confusing pop-up messages. He’s a regular at our Mountsorrel events, where he takes the time to guide visitors through problems in a calm, easy-to-understand way. Whether it's setting up devices, explaining apps, or simply helping people feel less intimidated by tech, Phil’s your guy.

Top tip:

“Google is your friend—but be careful with the Delete button!”

Fun fact:

Phil also volunteers with Charnwood U3A, a group that provides learning and social opportunities for people in their ‘third age’—typically after retirement.

Why he volunteers:

Phil enjoys helping people build confidence with their tech and believes that fixing things should be as much about understanding as it is about solutions. He’s always happy to share a tip, a laugh, and a fix.

Ray Birch

IT & Software Repairer

What he does:

Ray brings years of experience from his time as an IT support officer at Loughborough University. At our Mountsorrel and Bradgate Arms events, he helps visitors with issues like poor performance, confusing settings, and mystery error messages.

Top tip:

There’s almost always an Undo option—Ctrl+Z on Windows, Cmd+Z on a Mac. And remember, YouTube is a terrific resource for helping you find a fix. Just type in what you want to know and you’ll find loads of helpful instructional videos.

Fun fact:

Ray has a soft spot for tricky cases—and has been known to go the extra mile when something’s got potential to be saved with a little clever thinking.

Why he volunteers:

Ray enjoys working with people one-on-one and sharing knowledge in a relaxed, no-pressure environment. For him, solving tech puzzles is satisfying—but helping someone understand it is even better.

Andy Stockley

Blade Sharpener

What he does:

Andy sharpens kitchen knives, scissors, garden tools, and even lawnmower blades—helping to keep your tools in safe, working condition. You’ll spot him at both our Mountsorrel and Bradgate Arms events, where he brings care, precision, and a friendly chat to the sharpening station. Nick occasionally steps in to support when Andy’s unavailable, along with the occasional helping hand from our committee members.

Top tip:

A sharp knife is a safe knife—if you see light reflecting off the edge, it’s probably too blunt!

Fun fact:

Andy’s a talented chorister and sometimes treats us to a tune while he sharpens. Music and metal—what a combo.

Why he volunteers:

Andy enjoys the hands-on satisfaction of restoring everyday tools and helping people get more life out of the things they already own. For him, it’s about usefulness, safety, and community spirit.

Nick Cunningham

General Repairer

What he does:

Nick is one of our general repairers and calls himself a bit of a fettler—always willing to have a go at most things. If he doesn’t have the right tool for the job, he’ll often try to make one. Nick investigates faulty small kitchen appliances, garden tools, woodworking tasks, and is happy to solder broken connections. At a recent session, he repaired two mixers and a Nutribullet, and even converted an early calendar clock into a working digital version using a microchip.

Top tip:

Don’t be afraid to dismantle things to investigate faults—there’s often a solution online, especially on YouTube.

Fun fact:

In his spare time, Nick builds and races slot cars from scratch—think big boys’ Scalextric.

Why he volunteers:

Nick enjoys the sense of achievement that comes from mending broken things—especially when they belong to someone else.

Jill O’Neill

Textile Repairer

What she does:

Jill is a true all-rounder when it comes to needlecraft—sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery, dressmaking, and home furnishings. She especially enjoys repairing old items with a story and has a real love for hand sewing. One of her favourite repairs was darning a woven wool blanket. During lockdown, she led the Mountsorrel Community Quilt project and helped make the bunting now seen at the village Revival.

Top tip:

Replacing zips—especially in bags—is tricky and not always practical at repair cafés, but we’ll always try to help. Never be afraid to ask; even the toughest jobs can have fiendish solutions!

Fun fact:

Jill has a degree in Creative Arts but started crafting by watching others. She was making dolls' clothes from scraps at five and now makes Morsbags in her spare time (when she has any!).

Why she volunteers:

Jill is passionate about green values and loves giving new life to old clothes. She enjoys being part of such a skilled team and passing on tips to help others do the same.

Chris Waghorn

Electrical Repairer

What he does:

Chris is a semi-retired, chartered gas and electrical engineer. He has been DIY repairing and professionally designing since his apprenticeship in the early 70s. Like Paul W—starting with building Scalextric track extensions, adding lighting to trackside buildings and a variable speed control for the cars. Since then, he’s fixed toys, household brown and white goods, his cars, tools and vintage computer systems and now focuses on electrical/electronic repairs at our events.

Top tip:

So much repair content is on the web now, so if you’ve seen something similar to what you need, but need help with the how-to tricky bits and the tools, bring it along and hopefully, we’ll get it done.

Fun fact:

Chris has designed and built an outdoor tightrope for home use, and a shower panel-based cat-flap for use between his patio doors.

Why he volunteers:

Having had a half-decent career, Chris has now stepped back from full-time work and choses to “give something back”, and was delighted to meet up with John Fitzgerald again (after nearly 50 years) and join this team!