Stone of Destiny

Scottish poet Len Pennie goes in search of the student plotters and literary sensations who schemed to get back the ultimate symbol of Scotland - the Stone of Scone. It was the early mediaeval inauguration seat of the Scottish kings, once more important than a crown. The stone sat blamelessly in Scone Abbey waiting to be taken out every time a new monarch had to be made. But then it was nicked, in 1296 King Edward I wanted to extinguish Scots kingship - so he grabbed the stone and took it to Westminster Abbey to sit in the coronation chair of the Kings of England. There was surprisingly little fuss. But in the early 20th century - something stirred. Scottish home rulers and nationalists wanted it back - the stone became a symbol not just of sovereignty but of outrage and injustice. All kinds of marvellous schemes were dreamt up to get it back. At Christmas 1950 one of them succeeded. Join Len to find out how a lump of Perthshire sandstone became the subject of an audacious heist.