Viewers of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces in floods of tears

Viewers of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces were left in floods of tears last night after a joiner suffering from a rare form of muscular dystrophy transformed a circus wagon into a cute holiday home. 

Paul Tomlin, from Oxford, appeared on the programme last night as he renovated the 19th century vehicle, which had rotten walls and a decaying ceiling and said he wanted to leave it as ‘a legacy’ for his children.

But presenter George wept as Paul’s wife Kathy described his battle with muscular dystrophy, a muscle wasting disease for which there is no cure, saying: ‘How he’s managed to get through so far with what he’s gone through, particularly recently. He’s the most incredible person I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.’

Many of those watching said the emotional story had left them reaching for the tissues, with one saying: ‘Well the circus wagon and the story of its restorer. I’m not crying, you’re crying.’

Viewers of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces were left in floods of tears last night after Paul Tomlin, from Oxford, transforming a dilapidated circus wagon described his battle with muscular dystrophy

The master joiner said he wanted to craft the perfect circus wagon from the wreck in order to leave 'a legacy' for his children and grandchildren to enjoy

The master joiner said he wanted to craft the perfect circus wagon from the wreck in order to leave ‘a legacy’ for his children and grandchildren to enjoy 

Paul, who worked at Blenheim Palace for 10 years, described his battle with the muscle wasting disease as exhausting

Paul, who worked at Blenheim Palace for 10 years, described his battle with the muscle wasting disease as exhausting

Another wrote: ‘Omg I turned off the news and thought I’ll watch something to distract me from the madness and depression.

‘8 mins in, I’m in floods. Watching George Clarke in tears. What a project – I’m so willing this guy to complete his legacy to his kids.’    

Paul, who spent 10 years running a joinery workshop at Blenheim Palace, was determined to transform the wagon after it was kept in a shed for 40 years.

He was determined to bring it back to its former glory and so brought it to his home outside Oxford, confessing: ‘I think it’s worse than what we’re looking at.’

The circus wagon was  rotten and decaying inside, having been locked in a shed in Norfolk for 40 years

The circus wagon was  rotten and decaying inside, having been locked in a shed in Norfolk for 40 years 

Despite his battle with the muscle wasting disease, Paul meticulously spent months renovating the wagon, adding personal touches

Despite his battle with the muscle wasting disease, Paul meticulously spent months renovating the wagon, adding personal touches 

Presenter George said: ‘I can see quite a lot of rust, quite a lot of rot.’

Meanwhile Paul added: ‘If it was fine, it would be really boring and we wouldn’t be buying it would we?’

After Kathy said she had been ‘speechless’ by her husband’s motivation to buy the wagon, Paul said: ‘I think I remember the words delusional, was that true?’

Despite his wife’s protests, Paul added: ‘It’s just rotten wood, you just take one piece out and another in and it’ll work quite well.’ 

Presenter George was left in tears during the programme as Paul's wife Kathy described her admiration for her husband

Presenter George was left in tears during the programme as Paul’s wife Kathy described her admiration for her husband 

Paul didn’t just need to repair the outside, he planned to make it inhabitable inside too, with a cabin bed, wood burner and a hidden bath below the floor.

What is muscular dystrophy? 

The muscular dystrophies (MD) are a group of inherited genetic conditions that gradually cause the muscles to weaken, leading to an increasing level of disability.

MD is a progressive condition, which means it gets worse over time. It often begins by affecting a particular group of muscles, before affecting the muscles more widely.

Some types of MD eventually affect the heart or the muscles used for breathing, at which point the condition becomes life-threatening.

There’s no cure for MD, but treatment can help to manage many of the symptoms.

 

As well as restoring all the wood, he planned to fix most of the metal work, although luckily he had his own forge to do it in.

But even for a master craftsman like Paul, restoring the wreck would be a monumental task at the best of times.

He explained: ‘It turns out, I have a very rare form of muscular distrophy which is a muscle wasting disease. It gets harder and harder week by week.

‘There’s no cure and there’s no treatment really, so you’ve just got to get on with it  and manage what you can.’

He said the disease had inspired his ambitious wagon renovation, adding: ‘From a legacy point of view, I’ll leave it for my children and grandchildren to enjoy and for them to feel the sense of their grandfather was here.’ 

Kathy left George in tears, as she heaped praise on her husband’s bravery, saying: ‘How he’s managed to get through so far with what he’s gone through, particularly recently… He’s the most incredible person I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. 

‘It’s tough for him. He’s so focused. He will make the most incredible job of this that you have ever seen in your life.’ 

Paul’s sons helped to strip the wagon out and he began working on the metal work for the wagon in his forge.

But he explained: ‘The fatigue is a big problem, and actually standing is really difficult. It’s quite a struggle to do these now, actually.’

Months later, George revisited Paul and his family, discovering they’d crafted the wagon into a stunning baby blue mobile home.

George hailed the cabin's interiors as 'absolutely beautiful' and confessed it was 'better than he thought' it could be

George hailed the cabin’s interiors as ‘absolutely beautiful’ and confessed it was ‘better than he thought’ it could be 

He said: ‘It looks absolutely beautiful. It looks better than I thought it was going to be when I saw it at the beginning.’

Paul said he had ‘really struggled’ to work on the project, with his wife saying he ‘hadn’t done as much as he would have liked.

He explained: ‘I can’t carry stuff from A to B, which is really frustrating. But everyone has done a bit.’

Kathy said: ‘I think it’s exceeded everybody’s expectations.’

The circus wagon also features a touch of luxury, with a Jacuzzi bath hidden beneath the floorboards

The circus wagon also features a touch of luxury, with a Jacuzzi bath hidden beneath the floorboards 

His attention to detail started at the front door, with an authentic vintage bell to ring.    

Inside, George said it had ‘taken his breath away’, adding: ‘You’ve managed to turn something that was more knackered than anything I’ve ever seen in my entire career, it is absolutely brilliant.’

Most remarkably, the family made room within the floor for a relaxing jacuzzi bath. 

Paul said he had needed a  lot of help to complete the wagon after he was left struggling with 'really, really' difficult fatigue

Paul said he had needed a  lot of help to complete the wagon after he was left struggling with ‘really, really’ difficult fatigue 

Paul explained: ‘I think we did save it. There are lots of things which I will obviously keep seeing.’

Speaking of his battle to finish the wagon, he said: ‘The fatigue is really, really hard. I can’t do anymore means I can’t do anymore, which is quite difficult. You don’t want to stop, I’m in my prime.’ 

Kathy said the pair have spent ‘over £10,000’ on the project, saying she felt ‘proud beyond belief’, saying through tears: ‘It’s too beautiful for words. It’s unreal.’  

Viewers were left in tears during the emotional episode, with many calling the story 'very touching'

Viewers were left in tears during the emotional episode, with many calling the story ‘very touching’ 

Viewers were left in tears over the emotional story, with one saying: ‘The lady even made George cry. Very touching.’

Another wrote: ‘Grand Designs last night and we’re only a few minutes into #AmazingSpaces and I’m welling up!’

One added: ‘Beautifully done. A credit to your skill.’