Never-before-seen colour footage emerges of JFK giving the thumbs up moments before he was shot dead in his motorcade Film clip was taken by office worker Andre Leche on his new movie camera It shows Kennedy's motorcade riding along Main Street in Dallas Mr Leche died in 1987 and the film was believed lost But his son Paul discovered it this year hidden in a safety deposit box Second clip shows mourners laying flowers two days after the assassination By Daniel Miller Never-before-seen colour footage has emerged of JFK riding in his presidential motorcade moments before he is assassinated. The short clip, which was believed lost until earlier this year, shows the President looking relaxed and giving athumbs up as he is driven past cheering crowds lined up along Main Street in Dallas. The footage was shot shortly before the motorcade headed west towards Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy was assassinated. It was taken by office worker Andre Leche, who was living in Dallas at the time. He had just bought a new movie camera and thought the President's visit would be a perfect opportunity to use it. Thumbs up: JFK gives a thumbs up to cheering crowds as he rides down Main street in Dallas just a few minutes before he was shot dead Mr Leche died in 1987 and the film canister was thought lost. But this year his son Paul was placing something in his safety deposit box and discovered a yellow Kodak box with 'Kennedy' written on it. He said: 'My family lived in Dallas in November of 1963. On the 22nd my father, Andre Leche, decided we should use his new movie camera to film President Kennedy. 'This footage was shot as the President's motorcade proceeded on Main Street through very enthusiastic crowds. The route would take him west to Dealey Plaza, where he was assassinated. This short clip was shot just before 12:30 p.m. from the north side of Main Street, a few blocks and probably about a minute from the turn into Dealey Plaza. This was five blocks from my father's office. 'After the President's car and that minute passed there was no sound of shots but after a few minutes you could hear sirens in the background. Relaxed: President Kennedy chats toTexas Governor John Connelly, as the presidential car makes its way along Main Street The rare footage was taken by local office worker Andre Leche. It was believed lost until his son Paul discovered it earlier this year in a safety deposit box 'The first news of the shooting was on a small - and for the time - novel Japanese radio on radio station KRLD in my father's office. A while later the local radio news reported the President's death, some time before the national media. 'After my father's death in 1987 the original film canister was lost until this year. After looking in vain in my house, I was putting something valuable in my safety deposit box and came across a yellow Kodak box with "Kennedy" written on it. This month will see the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination. Last week the widow of Lee Harvey Oswald, the former marine who is believed to have pulled the trigger, was pictured for the first time in 25 years after reportedly turning down £3m to discuss the shooting. Marina Oswald Porter, is said to be struggling through a life blighted by illness, made worse by the impending 50th anniversary and the inevitable media frenzy which will ensue. Another clip shows mourners laying flowers in tribute to the president two days after the assassination