Humans of Frome: Bryn Dunn

Our Frome Festival ‘Humans of Frome’ Exhibition was a great success. One person pointed out that thus far we haven’t featured any people under the age of 30. This is the story of 17 year-old Bryn Dunn.

I’ve known Bryn since his fifth birthday.  We met over the phone when I called to say that I wouldn’t be able to make the party which my new friend (his Mother) had invited me to.

Bryn answered the call and kept me talking for nearly an hour.  Not an easy feat generally for a five year old but he was brimming with such excitement and joie de vivre that I just couldn’t end the call.

Eventually his mother (who was under the illusion that he had been talking to his Grandmother), took the phone from him and was shocked to realise that it was me on the other end.

We haven’t looked back since. His mother Freya, now my very dear friend and her wonderful offspring are our adopted extended family. Over these intervening years I’ve had the joy of watching Bryn grow into the multi-dimensional and talented individual he is today.

Bryn had an unconventional childhood which saw him living for a time in a converted horse box in an idyllic woodland. He also travelled over many summers with his mother’s circus from festival to festival.

They travelled extensively over the years, even taking the horse box as far as Romania a few years back.  All the while regular trips to his ancestral home in Orkney have kept him in touch with his ancient Celtic roots.

His father Nick has also taken him on regular European road trips over the years. At the age of 17 he has seen more of the world than most, his exposure to people who live their lives in different ways and those living outside the system has certainly given him a good understanding and empathy towards his fellow human beings.

I don’t think you could meet a friendlier, more enthusiastic and open- hearted individual.

The week of the exhibition Bryn was on a work experience placement with me. It was a thoroughly ‘Frome’ week, a term which I realise has come to describe something that is completely eccentric, eclectic and fun.

Apart from the exhibition we were also organising ‘The Time Machine – Fashion Show’ at the Silk Mill; 26 models, a host of designers and retailers and two very hilarious hosts. The 17 year old Bryn didn’t bat an eyelid or shy away from any task thrown at him.

A very accomplished pianist (under the tutelage of previously featured Human of Frome, John Law) Bryn had to steal away from time to time to go to his real job teaching piano.  He also teaches circus skills regularly, and manages to keep on top of his studies at Frome College all at the same time.

He recently celebrated his 17th birthday where we were all treated to an impromptu concert, with Bryn on keyboard and cajon, Archie (my son) on guitars and vocals, Nell (my 9 year old daughter) and Roma (Bryn’s 8 year old sister) on backing vocals and circus tricks.

A spontaneous inclusive celebration of all that is good with the world, and a very fitting way to mark the 17 years that this brilliant young man has been around.

I’m excited for his future; it’s hard to predict where he might go next, but I am certain it’ll be an interesting journey and one that he will experience with the same enthusiasm for the world that he has shown thus far.

Many thanks to all of you who came along and helped us to celebrate our amazing community and the people who live here.  Also, a big thank you to all those who took the time to leave feedback, much of which was very touching and made me realise that this project is doing some good in this crazy world.