Robert Gray (Scottish politician) facts for kids

Robert Gray (born 1895 – died 12 April 1975), often called Bertie Gray, was a Scottish politician who believed Scotland should have more control over its own affairs. He was known for his work as a stonemason and his involvement with the famous Stone of Scone.

Who Was Robert Gray?

Robert Gray was born in 1895. He learned the trade of a stonemason, which means he was skilled at cutting and shaping stone for buildings and monuments. This skill would become very important later in his life.

Early Political Life

In 1928, Robert Gray helped start a political group called the National Party of Scotland. This party wanted Scotland to have more independence.

Gray tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for the National Party in 1932, but he didn't win. In 1934, his party joined with others to form the Scottish National Party (SNP), which is still a major political party in Scotland today. Gray became an Assistant Secretary for the new SNP.

He ran for Parliament again in 1935 and 1936, but he didn't get many votes. After these attempts, he left the SNP and joined a different group called the Progressives. In 1947, he was elected to the Glasgow City Council, which meant he helped make decisions for the city of Glasgow.

The Mystery of the Stone of Scone

Robert Gray is most famous for his connection to the Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny. This ancient stone was used for crowning Scottish kings many centuries ago. In 1296, an English king, Edward I of England, took the stone to Westminster Abbey in London.

Gray's Copies of the Stone

In 1929, Gray, being a skilled stonemason, made two copies of the Stone of Scone. This shows how important the stone was to him and other Scottish nationalists.

The Stone's Return to Scotland

In 1950, some Scottish activists secretly took the real Stone of Scone from Westminster Abbey. It was accidentally damaged during this event. John MacCormick, one of the people involved, brought the damaged stone to Gray's stonemasonry business. Gray arranged for his head stonemason to carefully repair it.

The next year, in 1951, Gray and another person named Ian Hamilton left the stone at Arbroath Abbey in Scotland so it could be returned to the authorities.

Was It the Real Stone?

For the rest of his life, Robert Gray never fully confirmed if the stone returned in 1951 was the original one or one of his copies. He claimed he had hidden a secret note inside the real stone, and that his wife, Marion, would reveal its contents after his death.

After Gray passed away, Marion said that he had not confirmed if the stone was genuine, and she was happy for the secret to remain a mystery. However, some experts, like Warwick Rodwell, believe that a copy made by Gray would not have fooled other experts. They think the idea of a fake stone only became popular in the 1970s, making it less likely to be true.

Later Life and Legacy

Robert Gray remained involved in important Scottish institutions. From 1949 to 1972, he was a governor of the Glasgow School of Art, helping to guide the famous art school. He was also a member of the court of the University of Glasgow. In the 1950s, he was part of the Scottish Covenant Association, a group that campaigned for more self-government for Scotland.

In 1974, a well-known Scottish politician named Margo MacDonald convinced him to rejoin the Scottish National Party. However, he died the following year, in 1975. Robert Gray is remembered for his dedication to Scottish nationalism and his interesting role in the story of the Stone of Scone.