Barry Farrimond

Barry Farrimond-Chuong or Barry John Farrimond (born 12 June 1980)[1] is a British actor and the co-founder and CEO of British charity Open Up Music, which enables disabled children to take part in musical ensembles.

He co-founded Open Up Music and is its CEO.[2] This charity works to enable children with disabilities to participate in musical ensembles, by helping schools to run accessible orchestras, supporting the National Open Youth Orchestra, and developing a new accessible instrument, the Clarion, which can be played using any body part including eye movements.[3][4]

He has played the part of Ed Grundy in the long-running BBC Radio 4 serial The Archers since June 1999.[5][6]

He was appointed M.B.E. in the 2018 Birthday Honours, "For Services to Accessible Music Technology".[7][8] In 2025, he was awarded an honorary fellowship of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.[9]

In 2024 he was appointed co-chair of the Music Education Council.[10][11]

Farrimond friction hitch

The Farrimond friction hitch, a knot useful for tightening a line in camping or bushcraft, bears his name, after he demonstrated it at the Yellow Wood Bush Camp in Wales in 2008.[12]

References

  1. ^ Shimmon, Katie (7 June 2005). "College days: Barry Farrimond". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Our values and team". Open Up Music. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Opening up music to young disabled musicians". Open Up Music. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Open Up Music, registered charity no. 1167028". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  5. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - The Archers - Ed Grundy". BBC. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. ^ Davies, Keri (6 February 2015). "Barry Farrimond on Ed Grundy". Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  7. ^ "No. 62310". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 June 2018. p. B17.
  8. ^ Grimshaw, Emma (8 June 2018). "The Bristol people recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours". Bristol Live. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  9. ^ "RWCMD 2025 Honorary Fellows". Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  10. ^ "New Music Education Council co-chairs aim to tackle 'exclusionary' music education". Music Ed. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Barry Farrimond-Chuong". Music Ed Council. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  12. ^ "How to Tie the Farrimond Friction Hitch". The Bear Essentials Outdoors Co. Retrieved 11 July 2025.