JFK and The Black Watch’s chapter in presidential history

THE skirl of the Black Watch bagpipes captured the hearts of US President John F Kennedy and his family.

Three months into their 1963 tour of America, the pipes and drums of The Black Watch were performing on the south lawn of the White House.

The concert was said to be the last time President Kennedy spent a happy day with his young children Caroline and John.

President Kennedy was called away and did not join the band after the performance when they drank whisky in the White House.

However, there was a surprise for them as they left.

As the two buses were setting off they stopped to allow a man to jump on.

“I wanted to thank you guys for what you did,” he announced.

The bus fell silent as they realised they were being addressed by the president.

He said: “Unfortunately, I got called away on state business towards the end, otherwise I’d have loved to have had a drink with you.”

President Kennedy went down the bus, shaking hands, before going to the second bus to repeat his gratitude. The band’s esteem for JFK rose immeasurably in those moments.

Nine days later, on November 22, JFK was shot dead in Dallas by Lee Harvey Oswald.

The Black Watch band was still in the US and heard the news at the end of another long day’s drive from their previous venue in Atlanta to Knoxville, Tennessee.

For a second time, President Kennedy had brought silence to the bandsmen’s bus.

This historic first has since been adopted throughout the US.

It was a frosty morning in Washington that day and the party had to wait for two hours outside the White House for the procession, by which time their fingers were numb with cold.

As they waited, the men starspotted the world’s dignitaries, and stars such as Lana Turner and Peter Lawford.

At 11.40am, the president’s coffin emerged to be placed on the gun carriage, before the various American servicemen and bands led the way.

The pipers were to fall in behind the Marine Company at the rear of the military escort and some marched with cuts and bruises from the bar fight.

President Kennedy with Jackie, his family and a Black Watch band member at the White House.