DARREN PEACE
Where do I start telling you all about Darren, someone who brought happiness to everyone he met and someone who I never saw without a smile on his face or a laugh to share with everyone. Darren always lifted any room he was in and made sure everyone was enjoying themselves.
We first met Darren when we moved to Collier Row in 1981, nearly every memory I have a child involves him and not one of them is a sad one or anything other than happy and joyous.
Me and my sister grew up doing most things with Darren, Steven and Michelle, Whether it was playing British Bulldog, Runouts or athletics as we called it ……running up and down the street until we were all knackered. We would then end up just sitting on someones wall and taking the mickey out of each other until either Cathy or Dave or either my mum or dad told us it was time to go indoors as it was dark outside. Then we would all get annoyed and try to avoid going indoors until we eventually gave up and just said see you in the morning.
Another of our favourite things to do would be to play football at the end of the street trying to avoid getting caught by Mr Green who hated us playing outside his house, one time when the ball went over his garden he threw it back to us but only after having burst the ball with a knife and throwing it back to us in two halves, I remember being really angry about this but Darren being Darren just saw the funny side and laughed it off and just got us all playing something else because that’s what Darren did, made sure everyone enjoyed themselves no matter what had happened.
He once asked me if I fancied a few laps around the block on our bikes, as usual I said yes not realising what he had planned. It wasn’t until we were 15 minutes into the ride that I thought hold on, we’re not just riding round the block. We ended up riding for over 3 hours, went through Stappleford Abbots, Chigwell and eventually back home, before we got home Darren sped off, When I got back I remember turning the corner into our street thinking I’m gonna let him have it when I get off this bike. What did I see as I turned the corner, Darren and that smile along with that laugh, How could I be angry, we’d just had a great time and he instantly made me laugh when I saw him.
Then there is the time we all went to Bedfords Park because it had snowed and none of us had to go to school and our parents didn’t have work for the day. Instead of a sled we used a plastic sheet that Dave had in the back of his van. We all went down that hill quicker than a bobsled and loved every second of it, It’s still one of the my favourite memories as a kid and was made all the better because Darren was there.
Darren loved taking part in any sports or activities that he could, he used to practice Karate and I always remember him twisting my sisters arm behind her back until he told him to stop, he would then stop but then do it again straight away just to annoy her. He also used to play Badminton and loved beating me whenever I tried to get the upper hand for once.
I remember him having a snooker table in the back garden which id regularly play against him on but once again nearly always lose to him but again couldn’t get angry because he’d just laugh and we would start another game.
He joined us a few times at the F1, I have 2 really vivid memories of this, the first is when he saw a food stall and told me look, they sell HOT DOOO NUTS, I said no Dal they are DONUTS YOU DONUT. The second is when he went missing for a few minutes and then reappeared at the top of the bank, which was covered by thousands of people, shouting to Cathy MUM I NEED A ………………. Lets just say he needed the toilet and it wasn’t a number one.
We also decided to spend a few days in Cornwall as my mum, dad and sister were on holiday there, he wouldn’t let me drive a single mile, I don’t think he trusted my driving for some reason, This would come back to haunt him shortly after our week away. The week away was perfect, We all played badminton, had a lot of laughs and a few beers together enjoying each others company.
Shortly after the week away he asked me to service the little Blue Fiesta van that he had, Again he wouldn’t let me drive when I said we needed to get the engine hotter, He drove us round the block and crashed the van. Darren being Darren didn’t let this bother him at all, We got back and he told me I was still servicing the van even with it in bits.
At some point my dad gave Darren the nickname DANGEROUS DARREN, to this day we still don’t know why but we would hear the doorbell sound and my dad would shout watch out, Its dangerous at the door. As soon as we opened the door there he was smiling and within seconds we would be laughing.
I always remember coming home and seeing him and my dad talking and laughing over a coffee and some biscuits, im sure most of the time they didn’t even know what they were laughing at but they were definitely enjoying themselves.
My mum also remembers Darren knocking on the door to come and have a cuppa and some spotted dick and custard, they would then watch Eastenders with Darren giving a running commentary, He really did brighten any day just by being him.
After a night out on the beers Darren would get his Indian take away delivered to my mums and pick it up on his way home, He would stagger to the door to pick it up and im sure the food got cold during his 15 minute walk or should I say stagger to 4 doors down the road.
One of the things that I loved about Dal was that no matter how long it had been since you last saw him he would be there for you no matter what. I remember our toilet sprung a leak regularly and id call him to ask him how to fix it and within an hour hed be at the door ready to fix it for us, He would never take any money, just a few cuppas and some biscuits and a chat and hed be happy.
Those were just a few of the memories that we wanted to share that make us all so proud to have called Darren our friend, in fact he was more than that, he was part of our family and always will be.
Most of all I remember the good times we had, how he made everyone feel so good, how he brought joy to everyone and brightened up every situation.
Were all gonna miss someone who was truly a special man, Wherever you are right now I hope youre having a party with your grand parents and my dad and doing what you do best, brightening up the world.
Rest in peace Dal,
Love you mate.
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