TWO moving ceremonies are taking place this weekend to honour the sacrifice of a soldier hero, who was killed in Afghanistan.
Gardens in Bedworth and Hawkesbury Village are to be dedicated to the memory of Sergeant Simon Valentine.
A member of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, he died on August 15 2009 as a result of injuries sustained while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand Province.
The Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth councillor John Haynes will officially open the Sergeant Valentine Memorial Garden in the Bedworth Miners Welfare Park on Saturday at 2pm.
An hour later, Cllr Haynes is to join the soldier's family and friends at the official opening of a memorial garden at Hawkesbury Village where he lived.
That garden is alongside a children's play area in Ironbridge Way where Simon used to go with his two daughters.
Many features in the garden will have special meanings for his family, including totem poles with messages on them and a wooden carving of a Fusiliers' beret.
The garden has been built with section 106 money, which comes from developers as part of the planning process, and at the request of residents.
Lynne Price, chairman of Hawkesbury Village Residents Association, said: "We asked our members what they wanted to do with the money and they decided to use it to remember Simon."
She added: "We have worked very hard and closely with representatives of the Valentine family and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
"The opening ceremony will be attended by members of Simon's family, representatives from his regiment, the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth and hopefully a large number of residents from our area."
Within the memorial garden are totem poles on which are carved, meaningful words from his family to remember Simon.
There are also poignant words from Sarah Fullerton, who lives in Hawkesbury Village and whose brother James Fullerton also lost his life in Helmand Province at the same time as Simon Valentine.
Lynne Price said: "As this is a celebration of Simon's life and following discussions with his family, this will be a family occasion.
"After the official opening of the memorial garden, both in the children's play area and later in the garden of the Boat Inn, there will be a number of events."
They will include a drawing competition for children to design their own `super hero,' games, stalls and golf putting and soccer goalscoring competitions.
