Celebration of Bren

Saturday was an incredible experience, with genuine fun and joy of the river, coloured with grief and sadness. Our brilliant and loving community came together to pay our respects to an amazing kayaker and human being.
The turnout was a testament to impact Bren made in people's lives, whether as a friend, someone you only met a couple of times (as I and many of us did) or simply as a role model through social media, his endless and genuine enthusiasm and kindness always shone through. And that, as much as his incredible skill as a paddler, is what made him such an inspiration. I hope it brought his close friends and family some joy and comfort in a sad time, to see in such a beautiful and undeniable way how beloved Bren was (though I'm sure they already knew).

There was such a mix of emotions, having a chance to catch up with friends, some from other parts of the country that I see less often, was lovely, and making new friends too, all coming together like that in a big celebration was so special. But the celebration was for a life lost too soon and the sadness was palpable in the air. Greetings of "heya! how are you?" answered with a half false but cheery "alright thanks!" echo'd throughout the event, we all knew what was meant.

Photo Credit Tom Laws

I have no idea of the true number but upwards of 600 paddlers gathered on the banks of the Dee at Horseshoe weir, I held back tears as I listened to the words of David Bain, Adrian Mattern and Brens mum and I'm sure I was not the only one. The site of that many paddlers getting onto the river and dropping over horseshoe weir was awesome, with vertical boats on every eddyline and a stream of boats down serpents (along with the correlating carnage you could expect). We were there to celebrate and celebrate we did, and the river was full of laughter and smiles and play, joy in honour of a man that was so joyful himself. It wasn't until I was driving home, that the real sadness hit me and I let the tears flow freely

I only stayed at the party afterwards for a couple of hours. I struggle with crowds of people and I don't drink, but I heard stories at the T the next day and it sounds like it was quite the party! There was an atmosphere the air the next day, and I really feel like the spirit of Satuday flowed through the Trywryn on Sunday too.

Since I wrote my tribute to Bren a few months ago, I have had many people who had only met him a few times, like I had, share their memories of him with me. Many of the stories that stood out to me were of him helping pick up people and their kit after a swim, with a smile, a laugh and some reassurance, even when there were other people around who could have helped instead. It's clear from everything I have heard and my own memory of him, he never considered himself above that, a distinct lack of ego, he wanted to help and encourage everyone on the river, from beginner upwards, from kids through to adults learning in their 60's. He was eager to share his experience and love of kayaking with everyone around him.

Photo Credit Tom Laws

Photo Credit Tom Laws

Goodbye Bren, see you on the river.

Special thanks to those who helped make it happen. So many familiar faces managed the carpark's and the shuttling and all the logistics, thankyou all.

Bren has been there as an inspiration and role model since the very start of my kayaking journey two years ago. My original tribute to Bren was the first thing I had written for a very long time and it served as the starting point for my blog and sharing my kayaking journey with those who wish to read it. I plan to continue writing and sharing my thoughts and experiences in the future, and hope that in that way my blog can continue to serve as a growing tribute to an amazing person and paddler.