Whilst Chairman of the local Parish Council, I had reason to research an old airfield on the edge of the Parish. We were rebuilding the Playground next to the Community Centre and it was a suggestion that we should make it a living memorial to those who served on the airfield during WWII. What I discovered was amazing. all that is left now is the big flat field and four now renovated hangars used mainly of recycling. In its hay day, RAF Stoke Orchard was the home of the Elementary Flying school No. 10, the Glider Training School No. 3, the War Dept. Maintenance Unit No 7 and WAAF officers Training School. The dining hall sat 600 at one sitting! I will guide you through its development from planning to the present day - introduce you to some of the amazing characters that trained there. (On D. Day the first three gliders that landed at Pegasus Bridge were trained here in our Parish) and use some original photos from the Luftwaffe to secret documents now derestricted from the War Department. I hear you ask where the .???? is Stoke Orchard. well it is three miles North of Cheltenham as the crow - or a glider- flies. and once the home of Amy Johnson the Aviatrix. The little Church is home to the World Renowned Wall Paintings dedicated to St James, and the stepping off point for the Pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostella. Once the base of the National Coal Research department though that is now long gone and the photo shows our Community Centre and Memorial Playground.