THE Hereford Big Band will be playing at a ceremony to remember those men and women who served at RAF Madley during the Second World War.

RAF Madley opened as a training centre for aircrew and ground wireless operators on August 27, 1941.

In 1943, the grass airfield was reinforced to land bigger planes and the centre's population rose to about 5,000.

RAF Madley became a base for one of ten mountain rescue teams that had been set up to rescue lost aircrew.

The site was visited in 1944 prior to D-Day by US General George Patton and later by Rudolf Hess who had been held prisoner near Abergavenny on his way to the Nuremberg Trials in 1946.

The comedian and actor Eric Sykes was a radio operator at RAF Madley. Today only a few hangars remain.

Madley Communications Centre now occupies part of the site which is shared with Madley Environmental Centre, a nature reserve that is used for study by school pupils and students.

The B4532 and an unclassified road now cut the old airfield area in two.

On Saturday, May 26 a Memorial Stone will be unveiled to the memory of all who worked at Madley RAF Station.

The scene will be set by the Hereford Big Band and its authentic 40s sound.

There will also vintage vehicles, old film clips from the time in Madley and HAM Radio Transmissions, creating something of the atmosphere of the old RAF Radio Station.

Hereford Big Band is a Community Band serving the people of Herefordshire and beyond.

They play for charity events, weddings and family parties and can be contacted via their website or by contacting Terence Rowberry on 01568 610256.