Spectator - Summer 4

Book Review: Stone of Destiny, by Ian Hamilton. Reviewed by Marshall Thomas

This is the gripping, exciting, inspiring and funny true story of how four determined young Scottish college students liberated the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey in 1950 and returned it to Scotland, where it had been stolen 650 years earlier by Edward I of England. The author was the student who masterminded the plot and carried it out through a series of seemingly impossible obstacles, bungled plans, stupid errors, and ridiculously bad luck. Despite it all they persevered and brought the Stone back to Scotland secretly as all Scotland praised the deed and jeered the English.

I loved this story! This new edition was published this year, and a movie version will follow shortly. I recommend this book for everyone who cheers for the underdog and thrills at a victory over great odds.

I bought my copy through the Scottish Banner, but it should be available on line from Amazon or Barnes and Noble as well.

The Stone of Scone (Stone of Destiny)

The St. Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg First Kirkin, by Howard Topp.

With our Spring Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans at historic Christ Church in Irvington in May and our own at the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church on November 30th, I was reminded of our first St. Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg Kirkin’. It was held on May 23d, 1969 at the Williamsburg Baptist Church on Richmond Road. The Reverend Thomas Pugh, then the pastor at the church, invited the society to hold the Kirkin’ at his church and President Bob Duncan readily accepted.

Several of us had been to other Kirkin’s in the past and had a pretty good idea as to how the event was to be conducted. However, when the officers of the St. Andrew’s Society of Washington invited our society to attend their Kirkin’, it gave us another opportunity to see how that society performed the service. I acted as the chauffer for Bob Duncan and Dave Shepherd, driving Bob’s Caddy on a trip to the Washington Cathedral for the event. The Kirkin’ was spectacular within the stately cathedral, but far grander than anything we intended. Regardless, it gave us a program to base our Kirkin’ on. Bob and Rev. Pugh worked out the details and established how the actual Kirkin’ itself was to be performed and integrated into the regular 11 a.m. service. The Reverend Walter Kennedy of First Presbyterian Church in Newport News would assist in the blessing of the Tartans, as well.

This Kirkin’ was held before Lt. Col. Alex Matheson and Rev. Dr. Jim Forrester formed the St. Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg Pipes and Drums, now the City of Williamsburg Pipes and Drums. Everyone agreed that the presence of the pipes was essential for a proper Kirkin’, but where to find them? The solution was found down the road in Newport News. Warwick High School had the “Warwick Grenadiers Pipe Band” at that time and they were invited to participate in the procession in and out of the church. At the conclusion of the service, the pipe band also delighted the attendees with a short performance of Scottish tunes.

Since the society was only a year old and many of our members had yet to purchase Highland Daywear, those not attired were given Royal Stewart baldrics to provide a touch o’ the Tartan. The event flowed smoothly and has pretty much been the template for the St. Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg’s Kirkin’ ever since that time.

Next page

Scottish Festival

Book Review, First Kirking

Flowers of Forest