'I met Elvis on his one visit to Scotland – it was like a dream'

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Elvis Presley’s sole visit to Scotland remains a vivid memory for Anne Murphy, even after 66 years. The King of Rock n’ Roll made a brief stop in the Ayrshire town of Prestwick, where he spent roughly 90 minutes meeting fans and taking photographs. This fleeting encounter took place while Elvis was serving in the US Army between 1958 and 1960 and happened at Prestwick Airport, then operating as an American military base.

Anne, who was just 16 years old at the time, shared her story with the BBC’s Witness History programme. She learned about Elvis’s arrival from Sgt Phelps, a soldier she used to babysit for. At the time, Anne was working as an office assistant at a solicitor’s firm in Prestwick, and upon receiving the news, she quickly went home, grabbed a quick meal, and borrowed her mother’s bike to rush to the airport. Along with her friend Muriel, who joined the adventure, Anne ran the last part of their journey to join the crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the music icon.

When they reached the airport, the excitement was palpable, with fans, military personnel, and local dignitaries all present. Elvis was about to disembark from the plane when Anne asked a military policeman if she had missed him. He ushered her to the front, just as Elvis appeared, prompting cheers and screams of “Prestwick” from the crowd. Anne remembers being struck by how handsome he looked and feeling as though she was in a dream. Elvis promised the crowd he would return someday, though he never made that journey again and never performed in the UK during his career.

The experience left an indelible mark on Anne’s life. She remained a devoted fan, and her husband even became an Elvis impersonator. Despite the many years that have passed, Anne’s memories of meeting Elvis Presley continue to bring her joy. “I thought it was a dream, and it wasn’t a dream, it was reality. It was unbelievable,” she reflects

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