Coventry bar Browns turns away Corporal Michael Thacker's comrades

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OVER 40,000 people have joined a group on Facebook to express their anger after two grieving soldiers were turned away from a cafe bar for wearing their military uniform.

The two soldiers were in the city for the memorial of colleague Corporal Michael Thacker, from Keresley, who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month.

It is understood the pair, who were pallbearers at the funeral on Monday, went to get tea and coffee early that morning at Browns Cafe Bar on Earl Street.

But the soldiers, who were also joined by their commanding officers, were turned away by bar staff because of their policy of not serving people in uniform.

Owner Ken Brown refused to comment to the Observer this morning but is reported to have apologised over the incident.

Thousands of people have left angry comments on the Facebook group 'Boycott Browns in Coventry' including Corporal Thacker's wife Catherine, who claims one of the soldiers turned away was Michael's brother Matthew - also a Corporal in the army - who paid tribute to his brother at the funeral later in the day.

She wrote: "When I found out this news I was horrified.

"The lack of respect you have shown my husband, me and the lads yesterday will never be forgotten by the people in Coventry."

Willenhall resident Katie Jonas, who set up the facebook group, told us: "I was gobsmacked and gutted when I heard they had been refused.

"I only set the group up for my friends to be aware of it but the response has been overwhelming, it's been growing and growing.

"I set it up at 7pm yesterday and within three hours it had 20,000 members."

The news comes just days before a parade is due to pass by Browns for Armed forces Day this Saturday.

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