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Stone of Destiny
23/06/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond tonight welcomed Ian Hamilton to Edinburgh Castle to visit the Stone of Destiny nearly 60 years after he removed it from Westminster Abbey and returned it to Scotland.
Mr Salmond said:
"I am personally grateful to everyone involved in bringing to people - in Scotland and abroad - one of the most inspirational stories in Scotland's history.
"None of this would have been possible without Ian Hamilton and his colleagues - Alan Stewart, Gavin Vernon and Kay Matheson - who were game enough to break into Westminster Abbey to reclaim the Stone of Destiny, and Ian, who after a distinguished career as a QC, went on to detail its significance in a book for others to enjoy.
"The moment of that rescue attempt in late 1950 marked the reawakening of a sense of Scottish nationhood. It was a day that reminded many that Scotland is a proud and resilient nation, and that our destiny is in our own hands.
"There will always be furious debate about whether the stone we have today is the original Stone, or a replica switched by the Abbot of Scone in 1296 to fool Edward Plantagenet. That question can never be finally answered. But it is a mystery best left unsolved - as part of the romance surrounding the story we are here to celebrate."
Ian Hamilton said:
"I'm delighted that the Scottish Government decided to host an event in celebration of the Stone of Destiny. It's 60 years since I last saw the stone. It was well worth the wait to see it again!"
The feature film, Stone of Destiny, had its premiere on June 21 in Edinburgh. It stars Charlie Cox as Ian Hamilton, Cairon Kelly as Alan Stewart, Stephen McCole as Gavin Vernon, Robert Carlyle as John MacCormick, Billy Boyd as Bill Craig and Kate Mara as Kay Matheson.