A MALVERN jazz group made a presidential appearance at the Hay Festival last weekend in honour of a special visitor to the UK.

Abbey Jazz were first on the menu at a gala banquet for former US President Bill Clinton, entertaining diners as they sat down for their meal.

They were asked to play at the event on Saturday, May 26 by Rosanna Bulmer, of the famous cider-producing family, after performing at a birthday party for one of her daughters.

Band leader Len Thwaites accepted the invitation on behalf of the group, despite having only been given seven days' notice.

Under the name Lenny Thwaites' Dixieland Jazz Band, they played as diners entered a marquee, after Mr Clinton gave a speech at a nearby school.The hour-long set was enjoyed by 500 people, including Mr Clinton's daughter Chelsea, actor Alan Rickman and writer Germaine Greer.

Mr Thwaites, who plays the double bass, said that the gig and the security that went with it was quite an experience.

"It was just like it was on the telly," he said. "The security was top notch. Mr Clinton walked in and there were all these minders around him with earpieces. There were police and dogs everywhere. We had our car searched and our instruments.

"It was an experience to be right in the middle. You just behave yourself in case they whisk you away!"

It was quite a week for Abbey Jazz, who also celebrated the anniversary of their formation six years ago in the Railway Inn, Malvern. On Sunday (June 3), they will play an anniversary concert at Malvern Rugby Club at 8pm.