Memorial garden to Bedworth soldier opens in Hawkesbury

The young daughters of hero Bedworth soldier Simon Valentine say a memorial garden in one of his favourite spots is the perfect place to remember their dad.



Chantelle and Niamh Valentine, aged 14 and 8, were among friends, family and colleagues who turned out for the opening of the garden in tribute to Sgt Valentine, who died in Afghanistan in 2009.

His brother Zak, 26, now serving with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers too, was among 20 lads who drove overnight from an army base in Germany to make it to the dedication, in Ironbridge Way, Hawkesbury Village.

Chantelle said: “It’s a bit strange to see all these people who knew my dad.

"But it’s amazing to see how proud they are of him and what he did.”

Simon’s widow Gemma Valentine, said that the dedication was a special occasion for their daughters as it came the day before Father’s Day.

“It’s just a really nice way to remember him,” she said. “It’s lovely and such an honour.

"It’s also great that the girls have got somewhere to go and remember their dad.

“It’s somewhere he would have enjoyed going – he would have thought it was fantastic.”



Sgt Valentine, aged 29, was killed following an explosion that took place while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan in 2009.

But since then his family, friends and colleagues have worked tirelessly to make sure his memory lives on.

Mum Carol said the dedication was the result of a lot of hard work.

“This little area had a lot of memories for him,” she said.

“He was so proud to be a soldier and proud to fight for his country.

“He made the ultimate sacrifice and something like this is worth so much more than a speech from a dignitary.

“This has came as a result of a lot of effort, and those actions speak so much louder than words.”

Brother Zak, who joined the forces after Sgt Valentine was killed, was in one of three minibuses that drove the 1,000km back from Celle, in Germany for the dedication.

He said: “I think I appreciate now more than ever how highly thought of he was.

"Now I’m serving with people who he served with and he was a real battalion legend.

“Before I only knew him on civvy street but going though some of the things he went through I now realise just how good he was.

“Not including the drummers there was 20 of us who came back from Celle.”

Memorial garden to hero Bedworth soldier 'trashed' by ponies



A Bedworth soldier's memorial garden has been “trashed” by five stray ponies.

They left a scene of destruction at the Hawkesbury Village site, dedicated to Sgt Simon Valentine, who was killed in Afghanistan four years ago.

“We just cannot believe what has happened,” said Carol Valentine, mum of the hero Fusilier.

“The animals somehow got onto the garden and have just trashed it. Some lovely Oriental poppy plants have been chewed, a Remembrance wreath and poppy crosses have been crushed, a sapling has been damaged and the whole area has been churned up with hoof marks.

"It’s really upsetting, especially at Remembrance time.”

“We have been told that the five ponies had been abandoned nearby and were rounded up and herded onto Simon’s garden. I’m trying to find out exactly how the animals got to be there and who is responsible.”

The alarm was raised by residents last Thursday and Mrs Valentine, who lives in Bedworth, received a call from police.

“I had just been out for lunch with my son Zak, who is on leave from the army, and when we went to the garden we were quite distressed.”

The group of ponies included a foal and police are trying to trace the owners, who it is thought may be from the travellers’ community.

The memorial garden, in Ironbridge Way, was unveiled last summer as a tribute to Sgt Valentine, 29, who died after being blown up while on patrol in Helmand Province.

Photos of the horses - three adults and two foals - were submitted to our online blog by a local resident who spotted them on a nearby play area.

Police were reported to have sealed the gates until the owners of the animals could be traced.