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Elvis Presley In Scotland - March 3, 1960 - Prestwick Airport in Scotland

These are pictures Elvis Presley fans world-wide would give their eye teeth for ... photos of The King in Britain. Never published before, they record the only time the rock legend met and mingled with fans on British soil. The date was March 3rd, 1960. The place was Prestwick Airport in Scotland.

Elvis was finishing his American army national service and stopped over in Ayrshire for a precious two hours.

In those days, Prestwick was home for the 1631 USAF unit. Despite a massive security clampdown, the news leaked out that a mystery V.I.P. was flying in ... and when Sgt. Presley stepped off the plane, local fans rushed to greet him. And, without the restraining influence of aides and his personal manager, 'Colonel' Tom Parker, the star felt relaxed enough to mix with them. Photographer Ian McGhee, who took these pictures beyond price, said: 'Meeting such a legend is every photographers dream.

A fans memories

Fewer than 200 people saw him but for some, such as Ann Murphy - then aged 16 - it changed their lives.

Here, she tells Lesley Roberts about her historic meeting.

'I used to babysit for a Sergeant Phelps at the US airbase. I was at work one day when he turned up at my house and told my mum that Elvis would be at the airbase that night and I should go if I wanted to see him.

My mum ran to a phone box to call me at work. I couldn't believe it. I loved Elvis. I had all his records.

On the bus home, I was telling everyone I was going to see Elvis that night but they all thought it was just a rumour. They probably thought I was crazy. I changed into my American jeans, lumberjacket, bobby socks and blue suede shoes and cycled the three miles to the airport base.

I dropped in at my friend Muriel's and she said she would come too but I couldn't manage to give her a 'backie' so we skipped and ran all the way. When we got to the base there was a small group of people already there, standing at the barrier in front of two huge Cadillac cars.

Muriel and I were right at the barrier. We were so excited and suddenly the plane was in front of us. The door opened and there was Elvis. He was so handsome in his uniform. He waved and we started screaming. He shouted: 'Where am ?' and people shouted back: 'Prestwick' - but I was shouting: 'I love you'.

He came down the stairs and looked fantastic with that beautiful smile. We could hardly believe we were looking at him. We could nearly touch him. Then Muriel did an amazing thing. She jumped over the barrier and threw herself on the A couple of huge military policemen scraped her off and put her back over the barrier.

The next thing we knew, he was away. We went to the cafe where the young folk hung out and told people we had seen Elvis. They were all laughing at us but the papers the next day proved it.

I suppose that day changed my life. I went on to marry my own Elvis. I met my late husband Andy at the dancing and he was a great jiver. He had a black quiff hairstyle and was known as the Prestwick Elvis. He used to sing Elvis songs all the time and won a talent contest as Elvis. When I had a win on the football coupons in 1997, I took Andy on a surprise trip to America. We went to Nashville and he made a couple of records - Blue Suede Shoes and All Shook Up - then we went to Graceland and Las Vegas. He was like a wee boy.

Looking back, it was as if I was meant to win that money because Andy died nine months later.

He was buried in his midnight blue suit and his blue suede shoes.

So my daughters - Angela and Andrea - were really brought up by Elvis. They're both big fans and so are my grandchildren. I'll never forget the day I saw my idol face-to-face. I might have been a naive, Scottish 16-year-old - but it changed my life forever. It might have been 50 years ago but feels like yesterday'.

Elvis being welcomed to Prestwick by the officers at the U.S.A.A.F. base

Meeting fans in the N.C.O.'s mess

In the N.C.O.'s mess. Directly behind Elvis is Robert Ghee, the photographer's brother

Elvis chats to young fans through one of the terminal doors
Sheets of paper were pushed through the space between the doors for Elvis to autograph

Elvis amongst the fans in the terminal building

Meeting fans in the N.C.O.'s mess

Meeting fans in the N.C.O.'s mess

There to greet him officially, were base commander Colonel Russell Fisher, chief executive officer Major Ed Miller and admin officer Major Ben Bacchus.

Liet-Col Ed Miller, now retired, said at his Ayshire home:'I remember it well. I got the job as Sgt. Presley's escort, probably because I was a professional musician before the war'. 'He was an extremely pleasant, sincere young man who took the time and trouble to speak to everyone he met'. The lucky few fans who were in the right place at the right time were left with the memory of a lifetime.

Elvis meets the local press at a low-key press conference

Elvis meets local fans at the perimiter fence and signs autographs

Elvis meets local fans at the perimiter fence and signs autographs

Elvis thanks photographer Ian McGhee

Elvis at the microphone before making a short speech

At Prestwick, Elvis phoned his bride-to-be Priscilla, in Frankfurt.

Elvis says his farewells to Ed Miller before leaving for the U.S.A.

Click the U.S. Army logo to go to our next page about Elvis Presley in the U.S. Army.

   Elvis Presley at Fort Dix: March 3, 1960 

 Elvis In The U.S. Army

Elvis Presley being discharged from the Army : March 5, 1960

Next March 3, 5, 6 and 7, 1960 - Sergeant Elvis Presley Back in the USA

Elvis Presley - June 1, 1958 - Outside Graceland
Elvis in the U.S. Army in colour

Elvis fans all shook up ... 50 years after Prestwick

Three of the photographs are reproduced from photocopies of prints. Negatives of these no longer exist. Other photographs are reproduced without clearance of the copyright holder. This is either the U.S.A.A.F. or the British Ministry Of Defence and we express our thanks to either.

From Elvis Presley Music ---- https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au