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]
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]
