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Suggs | Claire Barratt | Axel Cleghorn | Jerry Thurston | Webchats

Madness singer, Graham 'Suggs' McPherson, 42, is more familiar with putting his veteran ska band back together than vintage machinery. Following a successful tour in December, Suggs says: 'I'm at a point in my life where things interest me beyond guitars and leather trousers. I fixed a couple of scooters when I was 16, but my role in Salvage Squad is to be a non-expert – to be a conduit between the experts and the public. It's illuminating to see people dedicated to pure expertise – it was inspiring going to the finest spring manufacturers in the world in Wolverhampton. I'm building up to a cathartic experience. I bought an allotment two years ago and I'm getting broody for a new purpose in life. I want a shed, with a few tools, a paraffin lamp and an armchair ...

'The Great Dorset Steam Fair is like Glastonbury for lovers of steam, and it's equally psychedelic. The smoke, fire, sparks, the togetherness – it's reminiscent of a rock concert in every way.'

Claire Barratt, 29, is an industrial archaeologist and steam engineer. She trained as a civil engineer but always wanted to work in museums. 'I have worked at the Chiltern Open Air Museum and the Royal Armouries but now I have my dream job – at the British Engineerium in Hove, Sussex.

'We conserve and restore other people's things,' says Claire. 'This could mean fixing the central heating system in a stately home, restoring a windmill or watermill or working on a steam engine.'

Based in a Victorian water pumping station, the Engineerium is itself a model of conservation. The team of engineers use old skills in the original workshops to turn their hands to a wide range of tasks.

Claire is passionate about steam and is never happier than when she is stoking or stripping boilers. And her spare time activities are a variation on a theme: 'I have lots of cars,' she says. 'A 1968 camper van, a Triumph Herald, Landrovers…'

Axel Cleghorn, aged 38, has always enjoyed fixing up motorcycles and is a keen biker. But far from being the conventional bloke messing about with machines, after leaving school he worked in a variety of jobs, from being a live-in nanny to the Hard Rock Café then joined the Fire Brigade, where he stayed for 12 years.

Now he is a househusband – he stays at home to look after his 2-year-old son, Troy, who so far, 'is more into breaking things than fixing them'. Axel's interests are diverse. He loves music and has his own studio. He enjoys fishing 'anywhere, from the sea to the ponds on Hampstead Heath' and has also done skydiving to raise money for charity. 'It is terrifying, jumping 12,500 ft,' he says, 'but I'd love to do it again.'

Axel has also developed an enthusiasm for photography and took lots of behind-the-scenes pictures during the filming of Salvage Squad.

Jerry Thurston, 37, acquired his first classic motorcycle when he was 14. 'It was a Francis Barnett Plover – not a machine to be particularly proud of but it was my first restoration, and when I sold it, I made a profit, which enabled me to buy my next bike.' His fascination with restoring classic vehicles has never waned.

Jerry's father was a motor dealer who encouraged his interest in old vehicles and now he pursues that through his work as a journalist on specialist magazines such as Old Glory as well as in his spare time. In fact, it was through Old Glory that Jerry came to be part of the Salvage Squad. 'I was sitting at my desk at the magazine when the production company phoned to ask if I knew of anyone who would be interested. I thought I could do it and did three screen tests and was chosen to take part.'

Webchats

Missed the webchats with the Salvage Squad?
Read the chat with Axel, Claire and Jerry that took place on Monday 24th February
Read the chat with Suggs that took place on 6 January 2003.