Frost Magazine was in shock when our writer and friend Darren Errol Clarke died on Friday, 15 August. Darren was only 45 and always very fit and healthy. Unfortunately, Darren had a stroke and later died of complications.
Darren was one of the most wonderful people you could ever meet. Charismatic, smart, gentle, kind: he was all the best of humanity in one big loveable giant of a man. His death has been widely felt not just at Frost, but also in the acting community, the RAF where he was an aircraft engineering technician and in the Judo community. An outpouring of grief was all over social media after he died and many are still in shock. Darren was an outstanding individual. His intelligence was on another level and he was an actor who had been in many popular TV shows and films. I asked some of his friends to send their memories along. Here they are:
Nina Meecham:
I met Darren about 12 years ago, he was amazing, truthful and the best guy a woman could ask for. As time flew past our relationship, though long distance. moved away but having him as a best friend was amazing. Our love for each other was strong and he always talked me out of the blue days. I still can’t get my head around not hearing your voice seeing your smile, never talking to you again. I found a white feather on my floor today out of nowhere could this have came from… so i believe it was from you… showing me your ok and you’re still around me … thank you for loving me . I will miss you always x
Colin David Reese:
I first met Darren at an evening organised by our common agent – Miles whom I have known for many years. As I don’t live in the UK and had come over partly for this social evening, I knew nobody else in the room. Feeling a bit shy and awkward as everybody knew everybody else, I was somewhat left out. Darren came over to me and introduced himself. Nobody else had. We had, in fact, exchanged a couple of banters on FB and so there was a previous contact. Darren then took me round the room and introduced me to many people – which Miles was rather too occupied to be able to do. Our friendship was born at that moment as he broke the ice for me. Since then we became constant friends on FB and nearly every time I was in London we would meet over a pint …
These lovely memories came from Amanda Caffry-Hughes:
Darren was just 19 years old, serving in the RAF (at Locking, Weston Super Mare), when we first met at a nightclub. He was that confident, cool, well dressed guy who was breaking some moves on the dance floor: Grabbing the limelight – as his presence always did!
Just a short time spent in his company, I soon discovered what an amazing individual he was. We hit it off immediately and within weeks became very close. Smart, good hearted, a gentle man, Daz was always compassionate, kind and considerate to others. My parents adored him! We didn’t always share the same opinion or see eye to eye – Daz could be stubborn at times, but was always very forgiving of my indifference and ignorance (!)
With time we went our separate ways but we never lost touch and stayed in regular contact, communicating most weeks. Throughout the last 26 years, we’ve shared personal tragedies – as well as our successes. Always there for me, Darren was the most generous, loyal, trustworthy, honourable friend whom I miss today and will miss forever. Losing one of my best friends is pain beyond belief but I know I was blessed to have known Darren’s love and friendship.
I’ve cried a thousand tears over the last few weeks…I know I’ll cry thousands more over Darren in the future: But today I’ve cried tears of laughter as I reminisce about the times we spent together. Always special times, we had so much fun: So many laughs – like the time Daz persuaded me to buy a state of the art car stereo system with the promise that he’d install it.. “Trust me Mand? I’m an aircraft technician: I work on Harrier Jump Jets all the time” he said, “It will …be a doddle and the sound will be quality!” Well he was right on that one. Driving to our chosen nightclub that night we certainly had fine tunes booming out at a million decibels BUT what Daz had failed to check was when the stereo was turned ON, the headlights turned to high beam AND the hazard lights flashed constantly! We had our very own mobile disco down the M5! How we made the entire journey from Chard to Exeter (and back) without being pulled over by the cops is beyond me! Well Darren returned to RAF Bruggen without fixing the fault (!) and I spent the following month driving at night in silence. Maybe that was his intention because my thoughts always turned to him… as they do now. Bless you Darling. Xxxx
That beautiful smile is etched on my memory forever. (Along with the sulky expression with the puppy dog eyes and bottom lip: Melted my heart and made me smile and laugh every time!) Gonna miss my dear friend but weren’t we the lucky ones to have known such a beautiful soul. Forever in my heart. R.I.P darling Daz.
I can see Darren now….Sunday morning in front of the hall mirror, plucking white cat fur from his afro! My fluffy persian “Gizmo” so loved to sleep on Darren’s pillow! I remember one evening at our favourite night club – the strobe and ultraviolet lights lit up the white fur around Darren’s head like an angel’s halo. I did laugh. Daz didn’t. He didn’t call my cat by his name “Gizmo” ever again!
Darren Errol Clarke 29 April 1969 – 15 August 2014. Rest in Peace.
Darren’s articles on Frost are below.
Dr David R Hamilton… Self Love at BAFTA
Female Superheroes… Why has Hollywood gotten it wrong?
Online gambling, its rise and fall.
Diabetes… It’s Not Too Late To Take Control
Ageing isn’t just skin deep – Muscular Ageing
In love With Death in a “Secret Garden”
Frost meets Paddy Power and Professor Hawking: How England can win the world cup
The Moratorium: Homeless Veterans
Back Pain: How Low Can You Go?
Fire In Babylon: Facing Devon Malcolm
is available here.