THE widow of an airman who died when his plane crashed seconds from a North-East town 22 years ago will remember her brave husband at a service tomorrow.

Tina Matthews will be among the guests paying tribute to more than 100 aviators who have died on the remote hills of Teesdale, County Durham, since the Second World War.

Her husband, Squadron Leader Rodger Matthews, died when his RAF Jaguar exploded above Startforth, near Barnard Castle, in the summer of 1981.

He was widely praised for staying in the aircraft as it hit trouble and avoiding a potential catastrophe in the town.

His bravery will be remembered at the service, which will be held near the site where he crashed.

He will be included in prayers at the annual Aviation Day memorial service at Deerbolt, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, honouring about 100 airmen killed in crashes in the area in the past 60 years.

Sqn Ldr Matthews, whose RAF Jaguar crashed into a field at Deerbolt in August 1981, is to be mentioned by name because his widow, Tina, will be at the ceremony for the first time.

John Yarker, one of the organisers, said: "A friend of Rodger Matthews contacted me lately and asked about the crash site.

"I was able to show him it, along with a tree planted in Rodger's memory at the Bowes Museum.

"I told him about our Aviation Day and he passed the details on to Tina, who has since remarried. We have now heard that she will be attending, and it will be an honour to have her here."

Aviation Day was set up by Mr Yarker, a former RAF man and retired prison officer, along with colleague Tony Galley.

They decided something needed to be done to commemorate those killed in the high number of air crashes Teesdale has had since the Second World War.

Mr Yarker said, "The area had more than its share of crashes, possibly because of the unusual geography.

"We felt a day should be set aside to commemorate all the air crews who lost their lives."

A memorial stone stands just outside Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, a few hundred yards from where the Jaguar came down.

The service will start there at 1.30pm tomorrow. Two Hawk aircraft from RAF Leeming will perform a flypast.

People are invited to the service and to an exhibition and talk in the institution afterwards.

Also mentiond in the service will be Bill Eden, of Barnard Castle, who flew in bombers during the Second World War and was shot down over the Bay of Biscay.

He was a great supporter of Aviation Day, but died aged 88 shortly after last year's event.