Musician, painter and decorator and enthusiastic sailor Darren Long is raising money for a charity close to his heart with his Plymouth-based band Black Tar Roses.
They have recorded a four track EP to raise money for Sailing Tectona CIC,which operates a sailing ship based in the city providing people of all ages with the opportunity to make positive changes in their lives through sail training experiences.
For most of his adult life Darren had battled with addictions – until he came to Plymouth more than a decade ago when a place was secured for him on the Tectona.
Darren, from Stoke, said:
“I had spent 10 years of my life using drugs and another 15 years trying to stop. I came to Plymouth 11 years ago and as part of my drug treatment I sailed on Tectona and inspired by my experience I fell in love with both the boat and the sea.”
Darren, who is now 48, went on to volunteer for the charity Tectona Sailing and towards the end of 2011 he won a bursary to become a fully qualified and full paid member of staff.
That same year both Roger and Barbara Crabtree, the owners of the boat, Darren and his key worker Stu Plant entered a competition which focused on providing alternative approaches to drug treatment.
“Our plan was to sail the Tectona around the UK and relay the boat in 12 legs, each leg being crewed for a week by clients from substance mis-use centres within the Phoenix Futures drug network.
“We won the money and in the summer of 2012 we set sail around the UK: it was an amazing achievement and something I will never forget.
“I continued working at sea for another three years and during this time both Roger and Barbara become very good friends. At the end of 2014 I left the organisation to pursue music but I remained close to the charity and the boat, so it was a shock to me when Roger suddenly passed in the autumn of 2018.
“His sudden death is what brought me back to the charity and sailing for them on a part-time basis. To commemorate Roger’s passing we wanted to do something special and it was also important from my perspective that it raised money for service users to have the experience and the possibility to change their lives and abstain from drug use like I have. I am now in my eleventh year of recovery.”
Black Tar Roses recorded the EP at Momentum Studios in Plympton just before lockdown, with the title track a sea shanty called Plymouth Gin composed by Darren.
Black Tar Roses comprises Darren, his wife Sally who fronts the band, John Maddock from Tavistock on mandolin, Ian Stewart on bass and Anna Crabtree – Roger’s daughter – on violin.
They were joined on the Plymouth Gin track by service users from Hamoaze House who had previously sailed on the boat and some of Roger’s family and friends.
“Money raised from sales of the EP will secure places on Tectona for people with life-controlling addictions. Each place costs £500 and so far we have raised enough to put two people on the boat. We would like to see a lot more than that have the incredible experience.”
People can purchase a download of the Plymouth Gin EP by leaving ANY DONATION at paypal.me/blacktarroses.
If they would also like a physical CD they can add £3 on top for P&P and leave their address in the note section.
Sally said:
“We kindly ask people to select ‘paying friends and family’ instead of ‘buying goods & services’ so we don’t lose any in fees. Fifty per cent goes directly to the charity and is used exclusively for putting someone suffering with addiction onto the boat. The rest goes into the production of our next album.”
All information on Sailing Tectona and The Tectona Trust can be found at www.sailingtectona.co.uk
