Suzie Fletcher Biography – Suzie Fletcher Wiki
Suzie Fletcher is an English woman from Oxfordshire who is a member of the skilled team on BBC One’s The Repair Shop. She is a master saddle maker & expert leather worker. The show is a British television series made by production company Ricochet in which family heirlooms are restored for their owners by experts. The Repair Shop is filmed at The Weald and Downland Living Museum, just outside Chichester. As of 2021, the show was on its fifth series and was aired on Wednesday nights.
Suzie is an experienced restorer and saddle-maker who has a huge passion for horses and design and has been putting her talents to good use in the popular television series. She has been in the industry for over 40 years. She is an avid fan of horses and her love for them began in her childhood, which led to her career in saddle making and restoring.
She shared: “I have been nuts about horses ever since I can remember and can vividly recall from a very young age making saddles and bridles for my rocking horse and Cindy horse. With the influence of my mother, who was very skilled in designing and making clothes, and my father being a watchmaker, it’s no surprise I found a way to combine my interests in design and horses to become a saddle maker.”
In her teenage years, she met a local saddler called Ken Langford after her own horse’s saddle broke. Upon hearing it was not fixable, she was then inspired to take the equipment apart to see how its made before attempting to put it back together – it was this that made her realize her dream career. “Ken didn’t see any reason why I shouldn’t and played a huge part in my training. To this day, now in his 80’s, Ken is still my mentor, second father, and best friend.”
She was living in The United States for about 22 years until the demise of her husband when she went back to the United Kingdom and was greatly influenced by her brother to join The Repair Shop as he is also a member/ participant in the show.
Suzie Fletcher Age
Although she has not confirmed her age, she has previously mentioned she began her craft in 1975 at the age of 14. This makes her be around 60 years old as of 2022.
Suzie Fletcher Husband
Is Fletcher married? She was married but became widowed. Her husband passed on from pancreatic cancer. He was an American who worked as a heavy-equipment machine operator.
Suzie Fletcher Brother
She has a brother, Steven who is also on the show. He is a horologist, which means he works with clocks and watches. It was Steve who inspired her to join The Repair Shop and says the show helped her deal with the grief of losing her husband.
She explained: “Every time [Steve] called he looked to be having such a good time I jokingly said, ‘If they need anyone to do leather I’m your gal.'”
She added: “I really was joking but after several phone calls and a lot of reassurance from Steve I agreed to give it a go and joined the team […] I’m so happy I did as this is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever been involved with it’s also helped me through some very dark days.”
Suzie Fletcher Family
Her father is from a family of clock restorers and the family has been in the business since 1910. Her mother worked as a clothes designer.
