Darren first came to our attention when our seven year old daughter Rebecka used to point him out to her mother when she was being driven to school each day with accompanying commentary along the lines of "Lets drive past his house again mum, we might see him this time. He's beautiful, I'm gonna merry him one day" (thats how she said it) and so on and so on. This went on until they both got separated by going to boy and girl schools then quite a few years went by and Darren went off to Norway as an exchange student and married Heidi and raised two beautiful sons Robbie and Daniel, and when the boys were about 10 and 14 Darren and Heidi decided to go their separate ways. Josh,our son, who trained three times a week at kung fu with Darren and knew how Rebecka had always felt about him said one day why don't you ring Beck. What for says Darren. Just ring her says Josh. No I'm not gonna ring her she wouldn't even know who I am says Darren. Just ring her says Josh. Darren rings Beck. They arranged to meet and immediately decided that they needed to spend the rest of their lives together because it was obvious to them both that this was what was meant to be. Before they made any definite plans Beck said to Darren that they really should be clear what the other's goals in life were, so they could be sure that they both were going to be able to fulfil their dreams. Darren's revolved around his music, his boys and trying to devour as much chocolate as was humanly possible and Beck told him of her vision to build the eco-friendly children's village in Africa. Darren showed no hesitation in agreeing to become part of this dream, and he would work his music and chocolate around it. So they set off on their journey together. It didnt take long before Darren with great enthusiasm and passion became a very important cog in the foodwatershelter machine. He worked tirelessly,helping Beck and supporting her financially and emotionally with matching humour, strength and love.
After a while Beck bought Dazza home to introduce him to us and it didnt take long before we could see the real worth in this fine young lad, and our love and affection for him grew steadily the more we realised how much these two needed to be together and how much they truly loved and respected each other. It soon became very apparent to us that Darren would always look after Beck as well as anybody possibly could. And didnt this knowledge bear itself out in the recent sequence of events that has bought us all here today.
It is a fairly easy thing to stand up when someone passes away and sing their praises and say a lot of nice things that you might not have actually thought when they were alive. This is not the case with the passing of Darren. We were so happy to have had him in our life for the short time that we did and so sad that this has come to such an abrupt end. We had no doubt that Beck and Darren would spend the rest of their lives together, we just didnt expect it to be for such a short time. Darren's work and caring nature in Tanzania will go on to be an enduring monument to this fine man, and his equally fine partner, our daughter Beck. Their work in Tanzania had become such a huge part of their lives we know that Beck and her team will finish it now in Darrens honour. Beck told me when she rang me to inform me of the events that led to Darrens passing that he was coming home to spend a month with Daniel and he was so excited that he couldnt talk about anything else for weeks on end. He talked of all the plans he had to take Daniel camping and holidaying and she could just sense the love and pride Darren felt for his boys. Robbie had just spent four and a half months over there with them working side by side with his father and showed all the ability that his father had obviously passed on to him, a time that they absolutely cherished.
Beck also told us that on the day that Darrens life so tragically ended he told her that when he came home for that time he was going to come to us and ask if it would be alright if they got married. All we can say to this is that we would not have hesitated for a moment to give our consent to him because if any two people on the face of the earth were meant to be together it was these two, and as far as we are concerned, Beck and Darren you are married.
Beck went to Africa prepared to give it everything she had except one thing but it took that anyway.
Darren gave his life to protect our daughter and Dazza, we will never forget that fact and we will never forget you.
Rest in peace mate.
Wazza, Jill and Josh Delforce