Regarding the article on Rudolph Hess (June 23), and in particular the composition of his parachute, my late brother was a police cadet stationed at Giffnock during the war. Along with colleagues he "inherited" a piece of the Hess parachute. In dimension, his piece was similar to a standard pocket handkerchief, the outer silk area was metallic silver in colour while the underside was of a rough creamy-coloured sack material (no evidence of green or other colours). Present whereabouts? The carefully folded trophy was handed down to my nephew, where it doubtless remains in a drawer containing myriad yesteryear collectables.
Alan C Steele, 22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock. My father, the late John Rollo, was the person to whom the students came on New Year's Eve, 1950, asking him to take care of the Stone of Destiny. He became the guardian of the stone for 109 days (both parts). It lay under the workshop floor at our engineering works at Rollo Industries, St Andrews Works, Bonnybrige. He told his secret story to the BBC producer, the late Archie P Lee, in 1975, not to be played until he died. Dad died in 1985 and the programme went out on BBC Radio Scotland as The Man Who Hid The Stone in 1986.
To clarify which stone it was: when both parts were being repaired by stonemason Bertie Gray, at a house in Bearsden, before its return to Arbroath, he inserted a piece of parchment, a sort of time capsule. This was found by Historic Scotland when they did tests after it came over the border again to rest in Edinburgh Castle, so the one the students had, the one my father was guardian of, and the one in Edinburgh, are one and the same.
The question still remains: did Edward get the real one? Historians say there was time enough from when the Abbot of Scone heard he was coming to when he actually came to do a swap. I have a small piece which was broken off. It is of sandstone, while the legend says it was of a different material. The mystery continues.
Margaret Walker, Quarry Road, Cambusbarron, Stirling.
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