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George Bond had been calling me with concerns of Derek & Co. regarding the oil and other matters and whilst his own contacts are important and connected people, he didn’t have the contacts to protect Katarina.
I needed to understand how Katarina'smind was travelling after her divorce; so I decided to contact a prominent British lawyer, and former United Nations Chief War Crimes Prosecutor in Sierra Leone to understand how the Crown may be affected by any negative press.
The following day, I received an email from my contact, Sir George Desmond Lorenz de Silva, QC, KStJ (13 December 1939 – 2 June 2018). The words of his email on 28 May 2015 will never leave me, God rest his soul,
‘Dear Darren, I am greatly indebted to you for your email.
The picture you paint is an extremely worrying one… Naturally as member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council I am greatly troubled by what you say and the impact it might have on the Family.’
Sir Desmond’s message was a revelation. I later discovered that by protecting Katarina, I had protected the British Royal Family. This was the same level of protection and trust I wanted to create for everyone within The Home Club.
It wasn’t much later when George Bond called me, saying that he’d just had Katarina on the phone, almost crying and that Derek the others were furious.
I explained that my choice was not one against Derek as I had assisted him in ways he could only dream of. I continued to add that, my overriding decisions are to ensure that Justice is not only done but Seen to be Done and to protect Queen and Country before any deals or anything else.
I navigate these within my trusted network and that of my Family.
I was asked to take over a South West London Building Company after the Director had almost broken his back doing someting very silly. One of the Handymen, named Les, told me a story about how the local children wanted to enjoy Skateboarding and BMX racing and couldnt afford the equipment nor could the BMX park afford to contue to stay open due to Wandsworth Council's proposed finance cuts.
I could do this with ease and the revenue would be used to save the BMX event and reignite old relationships both old and forging new ones with contacts as they wanted to join The Home Club. Some people have thought that The Home Club is a snooty club for the super-rich. Although such people are welcome, The Home Club is primarily a community of trust.
Its origin story is not just an account of how incidents of odd behaviour by some of the people I have encountered has influenced me; it is also an opportunity to explain how and why I created this safe and exclusive community where due dilligence and open trade could take place.
Whilst The Home Club may appear at first glance as ‘just another club for the elite’, its core is founded on an attitude of service and philanthropy. Trust and giving back to the community, have both been deep-seated beliefs of mine for decades; I have always believed there is always extra space to give.
My greatest assets are my family, our name, its trusted history, our good name and my contact book; plus the fact that I’m trusted in exalted company that matters: circles that few people enter or even know about. In my mind, I fixated on a scene of children being sad, watching others having fun, and the mental image really stuck with me. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to act.
I reached out to a couple of contacts and – after a conversation between two clients, who also contacted the relevant people at Wandsworth Council – I hosted my first community event: the ‘BMX Jam’ at Kimber Skateboard and BMX Track. It wasn’t the Cheltenham Cup or a similar high-profile event, but it didn’t need to be: it was designed for people who wanted to have a day of genuine community, family fun and inclusion.
With the new BMX bikes on show, the event was in play.
The cost of the event is irrelevant: it really doesn’t matter how much I did or didn’t spend. However, everyone who attended on that sunny October day had fun: they were relaxed, and well-fed and watered: with burgers, hotdogs and buns, and other delicious street food. I purchased three factory BMX works bikes of different sizes and bike parts, as prizes, along with trophies and prizes for presenting to winners and participants.
Two clients who were journalists, interested in the ‘giving back’ aspect of my event, independently contacted the Mayor’s Office. Councillor Nicola Nardelli, then Mayor of Wandsworth, and Les’s love of meeting people and chatting, soon brought the event to the attention of people across the community.
Sunday, 4 October 2015 brought fine weather, people and families of all ages, backgrounds, from far and wide into Kimber Road and Wandsworth. Children raced around the skateboard park and there were more smiles than I could count. The community spirit was spectacular on what turned out to be a great day.
In the early afternoon, I was made aware of a little girl on her scooter who was racing around the BMX track at the top of the corners and really having a go. I asked for her to be brought over. My mother made a fuss of her and asked her what she would like from the prize table.
She tried to look through a group of local 'Rad' BMX riders, who were drooling over a particular branded BMX shirt as if by wearing it, it became a 'Badge of Honour'.
When she got the opportunity to choose; the BMX shirt was the prize she picked. The shirt was meant to be worn by a young adult or a child. It covered her whole body, down to her toes. The crowd applauded, praising her efforts and bravery. Her parents ran over to congratulate her, asking what the gift was for.
‘It’s a prize for effort,’ my mum said, as she handed the little girl her prized BMX shirt. 'Your daughter has been trying very hard and for that alone, she has taken the first prize of the day to be awarded.’
Her parents were delighted and gave their daughter even more praise and hugs, which only encouraged her to get back on to the racetrack, wearing her long BMX shirt. It’s special moments like this that I love.
They make all the effort worth it, as this is the very foundation of The Home Club.
At about this time, I moved into an apartment on the River Thames that overlooked the Hurlingham Club in Fulham. I was able to give my family anything they wanted: Bea being first in line; next my mother and my paternal grandmother, Violet, who lived in Plaistow, East London, at 9 Avenons Road (pictured left).
My nan (Nanny Vi, Nanny Violet or simply Nan) was old School East End wigh aheart of pure gold. She met my grandfather (always Grandad Bert) after her war-time love was pronounced as MiA. So the story goes, my nan knew her future husband as they lived in adjascent streets, families intertwined. Her story continues with her explenation of a knock at her mothers door as she dressed for her wedding day, only to se her war-time love standing there, not missing but in a prisoner of war camp throughout the war. She stood there in her wedding dress as his eyes filled with an immediate knowledge that he had lost her to another man, that day.
He asked her if she was happy and she said that she waited as long as her heart could mend, before dating my new husband to be. She replied that she was indeed happy and intended to marry Bert that same day. The soldier wished her the very best and left. He never married and died alone.
Grandad Bert was a Plater-Boilermaker working on oil refineries and shipbuilding generally. He became the Conveiner for the, Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers.
Their sons, Brian (my father)and Terry became Shipwrights at: R. H. Green & Silley Weir in Canning Town.
At about this time, I moved into an apartment on the River Thames that overlooked the Hurlingham Club in Fulham. I was able to give my family anything they wanted: Bea being first in line; next my mother and my paternal grandmother, Violet, who lived in Plaistow, East London.
My apartment was a mere elevator ride away from a fully equipped gym, spa and 25-metre swimming pool, which directly overlooked the river. It was a relief to return to the lifestyle I had enjoyed before my conviction. I bought a large dining table and loved to host my whole family at weekends for meals, pulling back the full height sliding doors to reveal the spectacular view of the river, and later to enjoy relaxing together in the pool. I decided to take a hobby and looked into joining The Wimbledon Club in London SW19 to pursue my long-hidden love of tennis.
I seemed to have caught a break: life felt normal again. I was soon invited to join the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce by its CEO, Mr Steve Pinto. After a while attending meetings and supporting its members, I decided to launch The Home Club and make contact with people in my black book to bring the nascent community together. I received wonderful references from Steve, even after he knew about my conviction. This told me that he wasn’t biased and promoted people doing good business.
Trust comes no more than when invited to rebuild the Façade at the Home of The Head of National Security.
Mr Jonathan Allen and his family, was a huge position of trust: Jonathan told me he was the Director of National Security at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). Jonathan described more to me about his successful career in Europe Directorate, working on EU issues.
He was subsequently posted to Cyprus and then to Brussels, where he was the government’s spokesman during the UK Presidency in 2005. Jonathan’s positions came about because of the trust placed in him: in 2007 he moved to the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT), where he established and led the Research Information and Communications Unit (RICU), a cross-departmental strategic communications body.
Jonathan returned to the FCO as Deputy Africa Director before becoming Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Bulgaria from 2012 to 2015: his fluency in Bulgarian made his chatting with one of our foreign carpenters an added bonus. On return from Bulgaria, Jonathan took up his then current post as Director, National Security at the FCO. Jonathan also covered the position of Acting Director-General, Defence and Intelligence from November 2016 to April 2017 whilst he was in post at the FCO.
I’m often reminded of the positive emailed reference I retain from his lovely wife, Liz.
I visited Henry Goldstein at his Moorgate office and asked if he would incorporate ‘The Home Club Ltd’ for me as my accountant and complete all the necessary checks, accounts and financials for the company and for me personally. Henry agreed that, his firm, Maurice J. Bushell & Co. would take on this work. November 2015 The Home Club was born.
Around that time, one day I had finished for the evening and was checking emails looking for confirmation of my membership application for The Wimbledon Club when I received a call from Pat Baptista, secretary to the Mayor of Wandsworth, who asked me to come into the Mayor’s Parlour at Wandsworth Town Hall for tea.
On the appointed day I sat in the Pat’s office, adjacent to the Mayors Parlour, before being called in to meet again with Counsellor Nardelli (or ‘Niki’, as she preferred), who was her usual lovable self, knee-high Gucci boots as standard. She asked me to stand by the fireplace,
‘Darren there are a lot of people talking about you and your good deeds. I know your unfortunate position of a conviction, but until your innocence is proven, those that don’t know you will believe whatever they want to believe. Your good deeds have not gone unnoticed and you have a lot of people of standing who are backing you and willing you on. I am just one of those people. In recognition of your services to the community, I award you with this Mayoral ‘Badge of Honour’ and your name placed in the register for time immemorial. Well done, Darren this is thoroughly deserved.’
I was so grateful for the award. What a special moment, which I dedicate my Badge of Honour to Bea.
This was further evidence that hard work does pay off eventually. A headed reference from the Mayor followed,
‘I know Darren Bolger though my work as Councillor at Wandsworth Council and also in my year of office as Mayor of Wandsworth.
Darren Bolger does a great deal of work and funds local enterprise for young, sometimes hard-to-reach people. He also offers mentoring and employment opportunities and for the good work he does in the community, this year he has been awarded a Wandsworth ‘Badge of Honour’ and lifetime place in our register.
On a personal note, I have found him to be a decent, caring and hugely compassionate person who is always dependable. I would have no doubt in endorsing the sound character of this man.
Yours faithfully,
Councillor Nicola Nardelli
Mayor of Wandsworth’
Badge of Honour for Services to the Community of Wandsworth
I had spent most of that year working on construction projects and steadily building my contacts. It was whilst reviewing my LinkedIn connections that I noticed a contact that was a supermodel. I planned to meet up with the Estonian supermodel, former Bond Girl (James not George) and lead presenter in Estonia’s Top Model TV programme: Miss Kaja Wunder. Kaja owned the Button Club, which was a private events company and party scene for the wealthy. We met at the Reading Room at the Law Society in Chancery Lane, London, to discuss a series of new dating events for our mutual networks. I said I would first need to see what she was doing before being able to introduce anyone. She agreed, asking that I bring as many guests as I felt comfortable.
I knew that I already had a wealth of interesting playboys and girls that would love to meet Kaja’s contacts and friends. This seemed like a perfect match. I invited my brothers, who had a great time – as did I, when meeting three Russian beauties at the bar after Kaja had asked me to chat to them and offer to be their wingman. I felt lucky to have all three of them write their mobile numbers of a till receipt. However, as lovely as the venue and the concept were, the Button Club event was lacking in numbers: I counted only 30 people at its high point, which soon drifted down: within an hour 10 or two fewer remained. I felt sorry for her: it seemed as if the Button Club may have had its day and there was a real need for a fresh approach. The manager of the venue, who had supplied canapés and cocktails, was also a little disappointed at the turnout. I could see a market opening in exclusive luxury events as an extension to my new trusted community.
With things on the up, I thought about changing to a healthier, better-informed lifestyle and so followed up a recommendation for a Harley Street nutritionist called Tautvilė Šliažaitė, a Lithuanian national living in London. I met Miss. Tautvilė Šliažaitė (‘Villa’ to her friends) at her Harley Street practice.
After an hour-long consultation, when I was about to leave, Villa asked me, ‘So, what do you do, Darren?’.
I explained that I owned a residential building company to pay the bills whilst developing The Home Club . Villa asked to meet with me again to discuss mutually beneficial opportunities. I felt that she was being quite entrepreneurial, which excited me.
I then received the call from The Wimbledon Club (TWC) that I had been accepted for membership.
I decided to meet up with Villa, as I hadn’t at that point made too many contacts at The Wimbledon Club, I invited Villa to play tennis with me during the day. She accepted and asked if we might have lunch afterwards, to discuss my health requirements, hear more about The Home Club and take a sauna and jacussi in the spa at my appartment.
We had a great hit for an hour or so in the blazing sun. I could see she was impressed with the fact that even though we were playing on grass at The Wimbledon Club, between two courts of experienced females, I remained relaxed and patient with her beginner-level tennis. She soon became competitive once she got the hang of it, enjoying trying to beat me down the line.
I found it equally amusing to predict the direction of her next shot, as her excited smile broke out before the point had been scored.
We finished the afternoon with lunch on the terrace and would have stayed there but for a call I received from the Mayor. Villa nodded for me to take the call, which I did whilst she leant over the railing, taking photos of the tennis lawns.
I then received a call from the Mayor, ‘Hello Darren what are you up to this fine day?’ asked Niki.
I knew that she would either be at an event or in her Parlour, so I teased her with the fact I was having fun. She laughed, called me some choice, unusually affectionate names, and asked me to join her and 26 other Greater London Mayors on the Whittington Walk, to join the Lord Mayor of the City of London to raise funds for each Greater London Borough and the Whittington Hospital.
She further explained that the Whittington Walk also supported the Lord Mayor of the City of London and was an opportunity to be part of an event steeped in tradition. Setting off from the Whittington Hospital at 9.30 am, the 5-mile sponsored walk follows the route about 600 years ago that Dick Whittington (one of London’s most famous Mayors) took to reach Mansion House in the City of London. The Mayor from every London borough assembled at the Whittington Hospital, before visiting the Whittington Monument in Highgate in their full robes and regalia, and then heading off for Mansion House to complete this prestigious event.
I accepted and put the date in my diary.
‘Bring a friend if you want’ said Niki. I thought long and hard about who to bring. I asked Villa, but she had pre-arranged plans with a film crew for her new TV venture, Then, as I was to attend an event run by Kaja at the Sanderson Hotel in Berners Street, Mayfair, I thought to ask her.
The Sanderson Hotel is a great place and has the most eclectic décor and stunning food. Kaja had a friend of hers being the DJ and during the event, whilst not very busy.
I was introduced to Rutee. Rutee is a former model. I was stunned to learn her age, which I couldn’t believe at all. She mentioned that she had been ‘the face‘ of a very large sports retailer some years previously. As we got talking, I told her about the Whittington Walk.
‘Oh, I’d love to go to something like that,’ she said, before continuing, ‘I’ve never been to anything like that, most likely because I’m black’.
Initially I thought that she was joking, but when giving her a double take, I noticed she actually meant it, albeit through a faint smile. This saddened me, even though I had a few drinks inside me, and my emotions were flowing, I asked her if she would like to join me on the Whittington Walk. She seemed overjoyed and told absolutely everyone in the place who would listen to her.
We decided to meet at the Whittington Hospital early on the day, to soak up and enjoy the atmosphere. We must have been too excited as we arrived very early and found a local café on the high street in Highgate. Rutee was also a health professional: she ensured that my breakfast reflected the Atkins diet she swore by.
We sat in the café for an hour or so. I thought it only right to explain my previous conviction and the circumstances before and immediately after my imprisonment. Rutee was glued to my story, giving me her full attention: she hadn’t experienced or heard anything like it before. She seemed very sympathetic about my previous situation and made no comment other than, ‘I’m so sorry to hear that. What arseholes!’
It was soon time to go on to the event. When we entered the Whittington Hospital and made our way to the main lounge, we joined the early-bird Mayors, chatting with them and their partners. As other people arrived, I soon noticed that apart from partners and spouses, no one was in attendance other than dignitaries and their other halves. As a result, Rutee and I both felt special and important, appreciating the scale of the invitation even more.
I soon had the great pleasure of meeting with Lord Mountevans, the then Rt Hon. The Lord Mayor of the City of London. We chatted briefly about the day ahead, before he invited Rutee and me to Mansion House for lunch at the end of the walk.
Prior to the event, I had bought Rutee a selfie-stick and phone charger, as her phone battery had almost died. Her phone was then handed to the police van that accompanied the Mayors along the walk so that her phone could be charged in their USB charging point. As we walked, we chatted and exchanged business cards with all the Mayors of Greater London, only stopping at Islington Town Hall for tea.
Everyone went inside where we took refreshments. I spoke with Mr Graham Brogden, Head of Fundraising at Whittington Health, as he explained the funding need for many things, not least the new nurses’ block that was under refurbishment. I could see that he was passionate about his work yet was struggling at that time to find any funding for the work.
I recalled Rutee’s comment about feeling out of place at such an event, so I considered donating to the Whittington Hospital. I made Graham the proposition that if he could get the Greater London Mayors away from their refreshments and outside for a photo – all of them – then I would make a sizeable donation in their honour. Before my last word had left my lips, he was dragging the Mayors away from their tables and shuffling them outside into the sunshine.
Large crowds gathered as Rutee walked over and asked what was happening, as she thought something was wrong.
The professional photographer positioned all the Mayors in a pyramid, with Lord Mountevans in the centre of the group at the bottom. Niki asked if she could join me at the top of the pyramid and, as I agreed, I noticed Rutee looking on and standing away from the Mayors, over by the crowd of spectators. I called her over, but she shook her head with embarrassment.
I asked again. As she came over, she said, ‘This is your day, I’ll wait over here.’ I turned to her and said,
‘These are both of our days; and those that are with me stand on this side of the line, as my equal’
We stood together, with Niki’s hand placed on my right shoulder and the picture began to take shape.
We then continued to Mansion House, where we all enjoyed the ceremony, including the awarding of the Mayor’s Certificates, whilst we all ate and drank at the same table. I had an insight that day into the traditions of the City of London and loved the feeling of history and purpose. I felt more ‘English’ than even before I was discarded and abandoned by the system.
I wanted to support the Lord Mayor and resolved to do so, deciding to find out more.
As we left Mansion House to go our separate ways, I thanked Niki for her kind invitation. She responded by inviting Rutee and me to attend her end-of-term party – The Mayor’s Ball – on Friday, 13 May 2016, at the Civic Suite in Wandsworth Town Hall.
Rutee was now embedded in my circle, being treated fairly, respectfully and flourishing as an equal.
The following day, I enjoyed the social tennis small talk and was to have my first game alongside Wendy as my partner. We played a good set and enjoyed lots of banter with each other and with our opponents. This felt natural and there was lots of open flirting going on. I walked back to the coach at the end of the set, waiting to be shuffled around, and decided to ask both Luigi and Wendy to be my guests at the Mayor’s Ball. I was pleased to receive their immediate confirmation.
The catering at the Ball was by Ian Taitte and Pat Baptista, who had gone the extra mile with the catering and wine list. According to Ian, he ran a catering business that would be tested to its limits, in terms of his capabilities in hospitality and event management. I invited my family, a few local contacts and my new tennis buddies, Luigi and Wendy.
Although Niki would bask in all the attention given to her at the event, in the same way she had enjoyed her year as Mayor, she was downhearted at the prospect of returning to the council as plain ‘Counsellor Nardelli’, without the red-carpet treatment she had thoroughly and rightfully appreciated.
The time for the photo call arrived, so we were corralled into position to get group pictures. I rallied the tables around me so that the photographer could catch the moment. Niki stayed with us for most of the evening, during her meet-and-greet of the guests. I remember one moment especially when capturing one particular photo with Wendy next to me: I tightened up when she grabbed my butt, whilst Niki thought the scene was very amusing with Luigi on her other arm. I don’t know why the Mayor was laughing.
(left to right, Darren Bolger, Wendy, Luigi, Nicki, Mum, Brian Bolger)
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