Elvis concert marks anniversary

Elvis Presley visited Prestwick 42 years ago

A concert to mark the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death has been held at the only part of the UK to be visited by the King.

Elvis touched down at Prestwick Airport on 3 March 1960.

He set foot in Ayrshire during a stop-off as he was flown to the United States from Germany, where he had undergone military service.

Scotland can be proud of the fact that Prestwick Airport is the only place in Britain where he ever set foot

Jesse Garron

Prestwick - which was the home for the 1631 USAF unit at the time of the King's visit - revived its links with the rock and roll star on Friday.

With the backing of the Royal Navy Search and Rescue at HMS Gannett, it provided the backdrop for a tribute concert by Elvis impersonator Jesse Garron.

Speaking before the show in the Aviator Suite, he said: "We'll be performing the musical story of Elvis's career going right back to 1954, with a big band and about 20 people on stage paying tribute to the man who set the ball rolling.

"Scotland can be proud of the fact that Prestwick Airport is the only place in Britain where he ever set foot.

Elvis' death is being marked on Friday

"I'm sure it was a magical event for everyone who was there."

The show featured re-enactments of key moments from his life, with celebrity lookalikes of Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis among those making an appearance.

Two years ago a commemorative plaque was presented to Prestwick Airport to mark the 40th anniversary of Elvis' visit.

The ceremony took place when the original Elvis band passed through the airport on their way to Dublin following a show in Scotland.

Up to 75,000 devotees were expected to gather in Memphis to pay their tributes on the 25th anniversary of the King's death at the age of 42.