What’s your name?

Further Info

This story was created in the artist’s own time.

Transcript

Brunel, Brunel, Brunel.

Brunel garden centre and tea rooms, Brunel’s famous Buttery down on the harbourside, Brunel building services, Brunel damp and timber treatment, I saw their little white van down my road just the other day. Brunel Training, Brunel Taxis, Brunel Flowers, and Brunel Ford if you want to buy a car. For moving house, Brunel Removal services can help, if you have rubbish to clear up call Brunel Rubbish Clearance, and I’ve heard they do good curries at the Brunel Raj in Clifton. What connection did Brunel the man have with any of these businesses, I wonder. Even the council go to work in Brunel House; does this make them more dynamic, innovative and creative? I’d like to think so.

Brunel, Brunel, Brunel.

For someone who only visited Bristol briefly, the name of Brunel has fired the imaginations of Bristolians to this day, and left its mark in many unexpected places. Is this some form of immortality? Or just cultural laziness?

But no, this is real inspiration – Joe from Brunel Bodycraft calls him a hero, and every day he tries to be more like the great man. He’s not the only one – Ron from Brunel Healthcare says he finds it incredible what Brunel achieved in such a short lifetime, and Carole claims that Brunel actually lived in the Tunnel House Hotel, which she runs, and railway enthusiasts often come to stay. Helen from Brunelcare says we need more Brunels in every walk of life, he had such a great sense of building for the future.

All in all, he seems to have left us with far more than a suspension bridge and a station in the wrong place to remember him by. Even after 200 years, Bristolians must be amongst his biggest fans.

Credits

All media not otherwise credited created by the story author, or permission obtained, used under copyright licence.