THE MOTHERS of the borough’s two fallen heroes have slammed the religious group Islam4UK for planning to march through Wootton Bassett. Both Denise Carter, mother of Fusilier Louis Carter, and Carol Valentine, Sergeant Simon Valentine’s mum, said the Wiltshire town was a special place to the families of those soldiers who had died abroad. They both said Wootton Bassett was not a place to make a political statement, but instead was the dead soldiers’ “final parade ground”. Extremist group Islam4UK, led by Anjem Choudary, want to march through Wootton Bassett with 500 coffins representing Muslims killed in Afghanistan. Denise said: “Wootton Bassett is an important place to us. It’s a place for all the families to come together and meet each other. It was an emotional time for all of us because we didn’t know what was going to happen next. “There were four families who were there on the day the bodies arrived back, all supporting each other. “I think that if they were to march in Wootton Bassett there would be a lot of trouble, but I can’t see them being allowed to do it. “It’s upsetting to those families who will be seeing their dead loved ones for the first time.” Carol Valentine agreed with Denise’s comments but said the government should be doing more to stop the proposed march going ahead. She said: “I have got nothing against anyone’s right to march peacefully, it is the fact of where they want to do it - it is just to incite us. “I am also bothered by Gordon Brown saying it’s bad and all this but then saying that it won’t be banned. They won’t dare say anything as they are scared of offending them and are talking about their human rights - what about our human rights? “Wootton Bassett is our final parade ground and they are going to desecrate it, as that is what they will be doing. “The people of Wootton Bassett come out all the time to show their respect to our lads. It’s not about politics or racism, if it was they can march all they want but why don’t they do it to 10 Downing Street or Westminster? “Also I thought it was illegal to incite a riot as that is what they will be doing.” Bedworth’s Sgt Valentine, 29, died in August while leading a foot patrol near Sangin, Helmand, the day before 18-year-old Louis Carter from Nuneaton was killed trying to save the life of Lance Corporal James Fullarton from Coventry. More than 550,000 people have joined a Facebook group against the march, which currently has no date. Denise said soldiers like Louis were just doing what they were trained to do and believed they were aiding those in the Afghan villages. “He was obviously trying to help those out there,” she said. “I know he gave his life to save a friend, as did those who were with him. He was doing what he could to help the villagers. They were doing their job.” | 
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