Darren “Badger” Edge – Facilities

Born in 1967 in the Kent Borders. I grew up in the shadows of WW2. As a child, I would listen to the stories of Grandads and great-uncles, tales of a war-torn world, and the loss of friends, and family. My playgrounds were bombed-out buildings, remains of once-family homes. But we were too young to understand the true horrors of what really happened.

My family is of Irish descent. And very proud.  Both sides of my family were strong in the faith. The same faith that led them to flee our home land of Ireland. Catholics and

Protestants didn’t get on, so when you fall in love with the other, there’s no place for you, so my grandparents fled Ireland and rehomed on the Isle of Sheppey.

My schooling was a Christian school. assembly in the morning, and the Lord’s Prayer. Not being the brightest of sparks, my education led me to special units. Dyslexia wasn’t very well known back in those days, so being shoved to the back of the class was a regular occurrence. I’ll never forget our family Bible. white leather bound, with a gold crucifix on the front. When opened, the fine parchment was embellished with decorated capitals. and fine black and white illustrations of stories depicting the story an incident where I was blown. I still smile when I look back fondly, at those memories of reading the Bible visually.

By senior school, my lack of education had found me in a boarding school in south Devon. that was paid for by the state. It was by no means a posh school. But one for disruptive influences. Slow learners. The teaching staff were tough, and they knew how to lay down the law. However, who could blame them? They were ready to teach those mainstream schools couldn’t. At this school I had my first encounter with a real stone wall. A car collision into the hedge revealed the slate of the wall beneath. This has stayed with me ever since. Hence, my love of stone work and stonework became my saving grace after I toured Northern Ireland whilst in the Army.

After my service. I tried settling down but just couldn’t, after a messy split with my baby’s mother. I had to leave. Something I was good at after leaving the services. Moving around was easy. Years later, Years later, I was diagnosed with PTSD, associated with my involvement in an incident where I was blown from a roof. In Co Fermanagh. Northern Ireland whilst on tour.

From there, things got worse. I found myself in prison serving a five-year sentence.

I walked into the cell area, hearing heavy keys jingling on chains and  steel doors slamming shut. and echoing off thick painted brick walls. The cries of men in their cells. Bereaved of their liberty. Whilst there in my heart, I heard God speak into my soul. God put it in my heart that I could use my past experiences for a greater use to help others. I became a wing listener, a Samaritan.

Once released I started working as a stone mason again, Then, a guy called John Kelly asked me to rebuild an old stone cottage at Lamorna. John was the son of a Lancaster bomber pilot who flew several sortees over enemy-occupied Germany. John was a troubled man, suffering at the hands of his father’s Complex PTSD, No wonder he eventually followed in his father’s footsteps.

John wanted to turn his land into a campsite. I suggested a campsite with a difference.

One that took in veterans like his father. One that could help them. This was when Noon Cregg CIC was born, Since then. we have saved the lives of veterans suffering from mental health issues, and we continue to do so, even though. The enemy is trying his hardest to get a foothold.