White Rose for Wallace 2018

WHITE ROSE FOR WALLACE 2018

23/08/18 at 7:00 pm - Our third gathering at the only known burial site of one of the limbs of William Wallace. Something told me people wanted this commemoration to happen. This place isn't a modern well known site, but is responsible for a piece of special Scottish folklore from the oral tradition. The fact is that we cannot be 100% sure that under this rather special shaped marker stone lies the arm of William Wallace. Previously it was known to those who knew and those that needed to know. Regularly visited in private, as I had done only on two previous occasions, on the actual date of Wallace's murder, and intend to for the foreseeable future, whilst I am physically able.

We gathered outside the gate till the appointed hour, marching in behind the pipers. This commemoration was the best attended so far and made all the more special due to the inclusion of two invited speakers and a performance from Ted Christopher. Our coup was the attendance of our first invited speaker, the Society's 2018 David R Ross award, Elspeth King. This was two days before she was even aware she was to receive it.

George Boyle, on behalf of The Society, read out Paul Colvin's poem, 'The Betrayal and Death of William Wallace'. Our convenor presented a membership to Patrick Herman, whose family are from Liechtenstein, and gave permission for him to wear the Wallace tartan, something we have never been asked to do before.

I've heard Ted Christopher's 'I'm Coming Home' on numerous occasions, but I reckon his performance at William Wallace's funeral in London, 700 years after his death is the only place it was more appropriate. As we reached the end of the commemoration, people were asked if they would like to say something, and a good half dozen stepped forward, some speaking publicly for the first time ever.

We then did what we came to do, each person place a white rose over the marker stone in the form of a saltire. This was followed by a minute's silence ended by the Pipers Lament, played by Andrew Tennent. Ted and those gathered sang 'Scots Wha Hae'.

No one wanted to leave, we chatted as it grew dark, feeling satisfied - we had paid our respects collectively but also meaningfully.
A WALLACE!
George Kempik

Wallace's Burial Place?.