Newcastle rescue hero and his beloved dog on hit BBC series

Newcastle rescue hero and his beloved dog on hit BBC series

22 January 2025

A NEWCASTLE man and his heroic dog have been featured on the hit BBC series The Repair Shop.

Last week’s episode focused on owner and trainer Dr Neil Powell, the founder of the Search and Rescue Dog Association in Northern Ireland, and his late and much-loved border collie, Pepper.

Pepper qualified as a search and rescue dog at just 18 months old and went on to save at least 16 lives, including a young German boy who had been missing for over 36 hours in terrible weather.

But his most significant contribution came after the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, when he, along with other rescue dogs, worked in harsh conditions sifting through wreckage to look for survivors. 

Tragically, their efforts came at a cost as Pepper and several of the other dogs later developed cancer due to exposure to the contaminated site and died at a young age.

Dr Powell decided to bring Pepper’s well-worn search and rescue jacket and collar on to the popular show, seeking to restore them in honour of his dog’s remarkable bravery almost four decades ago.

He explained: “In the 1988 disaster, he and two or three other dogs worked quite extensively in the crater area of Lockerbie at the start searching for survivors, and sadly they all developed nasal or respiratory cancers.

“Pepper died very young of a tumour in his lungs which really was heartbreaking and horrendous - he was only nine.

“Pepper was a beautiful, very, very special little dog and such a character. He had a thing for playing with anything, paper, rubbish, anything and he’s greatly missed. He always wore the distinctive green jacket and collar when working and getting The Repair Shop team to bring it back to life 

really was a fitting tribute for such a heroic little dog.”

The emotional task of restoring the cherished items was entrusted to leather restoration expert Suzie Fletcher and textile conservator Rebecca Bissonnet.

The team painstakingly cleaned the jacket and revived the leather collar, revealing the years of wear and Pepper’s sacrifice.

Dr Powell continued: “The entire experience was wonderful. The courtesy of the entire staff was one of the outstanding features for me – so down to earth and respectful. Their questions about Pepper and his role in search and rescue were gentle and I hope informative for the audience.

“They were very sensitive to the fact that even today my experience at Lockerbie holds a great deal of pain. Indeed all of us who were there still remember it vividly and with great sadness. Seeing the jacket and collar was outstanding and what the team has done fills me with great pride. 

“Pepper’s legacy will now be preserved for many years to come and I’m extremely grateful,” he said.