Elvis has made a triumphant return to Glasgow Prestwick Airport, 47 years after he set foot in the UK for the first and only time. Filling the shoes of the King of Rock and Roll was lookalike Gordon Hendricks who arrived on board a private jet and was welcomed by fans, airport staff and members of the media, at an event marking the real Elvis's visit in the 1960s.

Stewart Stevenson MSP unveiled a plaque in the terminal building which celebrates Elvis�s stop at Glasgow Prestwick on March 3, 1960 when he had finished national service with the US Army and his aircraft made a refuelling stop as he flew home from Germany.

A special guest at the event was Kilmarnock man Ian Ghee, who met Elvis and took photographs of him when he arrived in 1960, he said: "I remember my boss telling me we had a VIP arriving and at first he wouldn�t tell me who it was. "My brother was a massive Elvis fan and I managed to get him in by giving him the spare camera and saying he was my assistant. Some of us followed him around as he was given a tour with the base commander for about three quarters of an hour.

"We managed to get some shots of him on the steps of the plane and while there were plenty of press people there, I was the only photographer."

The airport terminal building has also received a touch of Rock and Roll with the creation of a contemporary Elvis tribute bar situated in the departure lounge, which joins new bar and restaurant facilities, and the quintessential Scottish retailer Peckham�s.

Mark Rodwell, chief executive of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said: "We�re delighted that Elvis and the minister took time out of their schedules to be here today to help us mark all the changes that have taken place over the last two years or so."

Source: Prestwick Airport  

Posted:  30th. September 2007