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www.celtic-connection.com
MAY 2010
Riddle as thieves try to steal fake Stone ofDestiny from Scone
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REPLICA of the original Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace. Located near Perth, Perthshire in Scotland, Scone Palace is the original home of the Stone of Destiny and the site of the coronations of the Kings of Scots.
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EDINBURGH - The tangled tale that surrounds the historic Stone of Destiny took another strange twist on April 28, as police tried to trace thieves who attempted to steal a replica of the relic from Scone Palace and replace it with a further fake.
However, the theft was botched and the replica stone, thought to weigh more than 200 kilograms, was abandoned in the palace grounds and its fake left on the pedestal.
The mysterious incident occurred sometime between the time the palace closed to the public on Wednesday evening and opening time on Thursday.
The copy of the Stone of Destiny, the traditional coronation stone of Scotland's kings, has been a focus for tourists at the palace near Perth for 30 years. It normally sits outside the chapel in the grounds, the traditional crowning place.
Mystified officials at the palace said the replica stone would require at least four strong men to lift it, and that it was dragged from its plinth and left at the back of the chapel. A fake stone was then placed on the plinth.
Lord Stormont, whose father, the Earl of Mansfield, owns Scone Palace, said, "This was not a speculative break-in. The intruders went to the trouble of chipping off all the surrounding mortar, and brought in a fake stone of similar size which would have required at least four people to lift it. A high degree of planning went into the escapade."
The brass plaque reads, "A replica of the stone upon which the Kings of Scots were crowned on Moot Hill until 1296 when Edward I took the stone to Westminster Abbey."
A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said, "We don't know if it's a political action, a prank or something else.
"The replacement stone was a very heavy black stone. Both of the stones are of considerable weight and would require at least three to four people to carry them. Transport would also have been required."
The original Stone of Destiny, a block of sandstone, is now in Edinburgh Castle. It was last used in a coronation in Scotland in 1292, when John Balliol was proclaimed king.
The stone was reputed to be the rock that Old Testament patriarch Jacob used as a pillow in the wilderness when he ran away from his brother Esau.
According to historians, it was captured by King Edward's invading English army, taken to England in 1296 and installed in Westminster Abbey for coronations there.
The stone was taken from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1950 by four students - including Ian Hamilton, later a famous QC - and left in Arbroath Abbey.
It was returned to London, but brought back to Scotland in 1996 on the orders of Michael Forsyth, then Secretary of State for Scotland, and placed in Edinburgh Castle.
However, some conspiracy theorists believe the stone taken by Edward was itself a fake, and the real stone lies hidden in a remote glen, spirited away from the English king.
Administrators at Scone Palace said they were reviewing security measures in case there should be a further attempt on the replica stone.
Welsh Society Holds Successful Spring Sale
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Welsh Society's Spring Sale, held at the Cambrian Hall on April 24, proved to be even more successful than last year's event.
A steady stream of customers kept the volunteer salespeople busy throughout the day. Profits from the sale will help towards the maintenance of the Cambrian Hall.
Once again, the most popular sale items were the traditional homemade Welsh baked goods prepared by Welsh Society members. Many of the recipes for these items are available in a new cookbook compiled by members and available for $10 at all Welsh Society functions.
Gillian Rogers, chair of the Welsh Society's Social Committee, who organized the sale, said, "The sale was a great success thanks to the volunteers and those who donated items.
"It brought Welsh Society members together and we all had a good time and enjoyed meeting the visitors, some of
By EIFION WILLIAMS
whom plan to become members of the Welsh Society."
Gillian and the Social Committee are to be thanked for their efforts over recent months in organizing a variety of events that have brought new members and generally raised the profile of the Society.
Members of the Welsh Society are now looking forward to a busy fall schedule, especially to events surrounding the Annual Welsh Weekend in October.
In September the Society will sponsor a Vancouver performance by Cor Godre'r Aran, one of Wales' most prestigious male choirs, who will be touring the Pacific Northwest following their appearance at the North American Festival of Wales in Portland, Oregon.
The concert will be held at Shaughnessy Heights United Church on the evening of September 10.
Further information on Cor Godre'r Aran will appear in a future edition of The Celtic Connection.
SALE organizer Gillian Rogers negotiates a sale with Liz Murray at the bookstall.
PAT MORRIS, Mary Lewis and Elizabeth Williams-Wallace provide an enthusiastic welcome for visitors to the Spring Sale.
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