Charles Barron
Playwright
The Wallace Pageant
A short pageant performed by children from Aberdeen primary schools. This was originally written to commemorate the anniversary of the execution of William Wallace. It is now an annual institution, performed in front of the magnificent statue of Wallace opposite His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen.
A King Twice Crowned
A year after the death of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce killed John Comyn, his main rival for the throne of Scotland. He felt that he was now the undisputed claimant and he called his supporters to attend a coronation ceremony at Scone Abbey.
Not everyone approved. The bishops whom he summoned to bless his enthronement had doubts about it. Traditionally, the crown should have been placed on his head by the Earl of Fife. Unfortunately, the Earl was in England – some said he had joined the English king, Edward, though others claimed that he was being held prisoner by Edward. The Earl’s sister, Isabella, Countess of Buchan, could have performed the ceremony in her brother’s absence but since her husband, the Earl of Buchan, was a staunch supporter of Edward, no-
To make matters worse, the Bruce should have been seated on the Stone of Destiny – but that, too, was in Edward’s hands. So were the Scottish crown and the royal robes.
They were, therefore, forced to make do with what was available.