On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F Kennedy, BILL GARDNER looks back at the president’s visit to Sussex back in 1963 - just months before his untimely death.

Half a century ago at the height of the Cold War, the eyes of the world turned briefly to a quiet corner of the Sussex countryside.

On June 29 1963, America’s youthful and charismatic president John F Kennedy paid a flying visit to meet Prime Minister Harold Macmillan at his country house, Birch Grove in Ashdown Forest.

After the short stopover Kennedy would leave England never to return, on his way to Italy and the final leg of his historic four-nation European tour.

Less than five months later, he was dead – shot through the head on a sunny afternoon in Dallas exactly 50 years ago today.

Kennedy came to Sussex for crucial Cold War talks with Macmillan, but also because he wanted to see the British countryside – and he didn’t come alone.

The Argus:

Kennedy and Macmillan at Birch Grove

The Sussex Police files from the time, now held at The Keep, show almost every hotel in the area was booked up as far as Brighton.

The world’s press stayed at the Metropole Hotel, while American government officials and the crew of Air Force One stayed at The Grand.

There were helicopter shuttles to and from Hove Lawns to Birch Grove house with officials scurrying to JFK’s every beck and call.

In nearby Chelwood Gate the landlord of the Red Lion pub was besieged by reporters – some of whom even asked if they could sleep in the attic.

Days before the president arrived, Secret Service agents had swarmed into tiny Horsted Keynes to set up a base in the Crown Inn.

According to locals, their powerful security transmitters put every television in the area out of action for the entire weekend.

Other agents spent the night up trees recording every local car number plate as it travelled along Birch Grove road.

The Argus:

President Kennedy's rocking chair, which was brought over to the UK for his visit

A special helicopter landing pad was laid out while supplies of Kennedy’s blood group were delivered to the nearest hospital, the Queen Vic in East Grinstead.

The helicopters which carried the President landed at the Isle of Thorns, where American service personnel allowed local boys to have their photos taken next to the Army vehicles.

However security was so tight that one eight year old child was arrested after being nearly shot for carrying a plastic toy cowboy rifle.

Most people had to settle for a fleeting glimpse of the youthful president, but lucky Lorna Gibson had a front row seat.

Both her parents worked for Prime Minister Harold Macmillan at Birch Grove – and that gave her a prized security pass into the grounds.

Now aged 86, she remembered: “Everyone in the village was so excited – he was an exciting man, after all.

“It was all anyone could talk about. All the reporters and detectives were descending on us and it all seemed very strange.

“I remember Kennedy’s staff brought his bed all the way over from the US to help soothe his back pain. It seemed incredible to me.”

Mrs Gibson also helped out at the Red Lion pub in Chelwood Gate, where her father-in-law was landlord.

She said: “All the Secret Service men were there as well as policemen from Brighton. It was a lot of work making food and serving drinks and I certainly remember getting hardly any sleep.

The Argus:

Kennedy's motorcade passing through Sussex streets

“After the visit there was a rumour that he’d been to the Red Lion for a pint with Harold Macmillan, but that wasn’t true. I think that was started by my father-in-law to drum up business.”

A practising Catholic, Kennedy decided to go to church on the Sunday morning in nearby Forest Row. 

Just after 10.30 the president swept out of the grand gates followed by a car with four secret service agents standing on running boards clinging to the sides.

Those on the right were trained to shoot with their right hands while those on the left were able to shoot left handed, so they could hold on and fire at the same time.

Mrs Gibson stood inside the Birch Grove gates as the President passed by.

She said: “He was close enough to touch. I was just gazing at him - he was rather good-looking. He certainly had an aura about him."

Crowds packed the narrow country lanes to try and glimpse the president as he rode by in his giant Cadillac.

At the church, Kennedy sat in the centre of the congregation with a security man on either side, one in front and one behind.

The service lasted 40 minutes before Father Charles Dolman escorted the president to his car.

The Argus:

President Kennedy chats to Father Dolman outside the church in Forest Row

Just when it looked as though the crowd had seen the last of Kennedy, there came the best touch of the day.

The president suddenly jumped out of the car and walked briskly towards the cheering crowd, who were a little fed up with security by this time.

According to a report in The Times, one horrified bodyguard exclaimed “Oh, my God, he’s done it again”, before leaping from his seat “like a stricken rabbit”.

By now Mr Kennedy was shaking hands with everyone in sight.

It lasted only a minute, but it won everyone over – apart from the small knot of Ban the Bomb protestors nearby.

On his return to Birch Grove, Lady Dorothy had asked the boys from Cumnor House School to line the paths to greet him.

The President stopped to speak to the boys and asked them to sing their school song.

Unfortunately Cumnor House had no school song, but the invitation was much appreciated nonetheless.

Soon afterwards, Kennedy’s helicopter took off and flew down the Wealden valley, never to return. 

The Argus:

Kennedy and Macmillan give a farewell conference at Gatwick Airport

Macmillan resigned soon after the Birch Grove weekend and Kennedy was struck down by an assassin’s bullet in Dallas in November. 

Ten months after the young president’s death, a visibly moved Macmillan visited Forest Row to unveil the commemorative plaque which is still there today, 50 years on.

For more information on JFK’s Sussex visit, read Kennedy at Birch Grove by Paul Elgood, available at www.amazon.co.uk.