Memorial plan is unveiled for Walsall soldier

Early designs have been revealed for the planned £20,000 garden of reflection at Walsall Arboretum in honour of a fallen soldier from the Black Country.

The plans, showing a spiral pathway alongside areas for seating and planting, were on display for the first time during a seven-a-side football fundraising tournament at the weekend which raised cash for the project.

More than a 1,000 people visited Silverdale FC, in Walstead Road, where dozens of youngsters from local football teams went head-to-head to raise funds for the garden in memory of Corporal Jay Horne.

The 27-year-old father-of-two from Delves, Walsall, died in Afghanistan in July 2009.

He was killed in an explosion while helping fellow soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles who had been injured in a bomb blast.

Cpl Horne's mother Jane Whitehouse, aged 57, of Duchess Road, said the garden will also be a place to remember other fallen soldiers from the area.

She said: "I want plaques with the names of the soldiers on the wall or on a massive poppy in the centre of the garden.

We are happy with the plans and I'll be having a meeting with the council in November to discuss it again.

"The event this weekend has been brilliant. I want to thank the organisers and the football club.

"Jay used to play for Silverdale FC so it was nice to have the event here."

Around £5,500 had been raised to create the garden before the fundraiser this weekend, which organisers are hoping has raised another £2,000.

Cpl Horne was married to Rachel and had two daughters Frankie, 12, and Jessica, three.