A Palestinian orphan who was adopted by a Renton household over 30 years in the past took a picket coronary heart in reminiscence of Robert the Bruce 3,500 miles to Jerusalem to honour the King’s dying want.
Simon Collings from Palestine was introduced up in Renton and is an envoy for the Robert the Bruce Heritage Centre within the city.
The centre’s mission is to teach and promote Robert the Bruce’s significance to Renton, the place he lived his remaining three years and died.
Duncan Galbraith Thomson, chairman of the Robert the Bruce Heritage Centre, needed to honour the King of Scotland’s dying want, which was for his coronary heart to be taken to the Holy Land to be forgiven.
He stated: ”When he died in Renton, his final want was for his coronary heart to be taken to the holy land to ask God for forgiveness for all of the individuals he had killed to free Scotland. And that was by no means fulfilled.
“We personal the Strathleven Oak, which was planted by him, on the grounds of his palatial manor home in Strathleven.
“One in every of our carvers made a coronary heart out of the Bruce oak in our interpretation of Robert the Bruce’s coronary heart.
“We made the choice to take it to Jerusalem to fulfil his want.
“A younger man, Simon Collings, from Palestine who was adopted by a Renton household over 30 years in the past took the center to the Holy Land while out visiting household in Palestine.
“I requested Simon if he might take the center to the slab, kiss it and say prayers for Robert the Bruce for all of the individuals he killed and express regret.
“He did, and it was on the June 24, the anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn. It was wonderful.”
The rationale Robert the Bruce’s coronary heart by no means made it to the Holy land was as a result of Sir James Douglas, who was taking the center, was killed in Spain. His coronary heart was then returned to the borders of Scotland.
Duncan spoke to the Lennox and stated he received fairly emotional figuring out they'd carried out Bravehearts’ dying want, saying: “It was an enormous favour.
“Actually, the excitement in regards to the place after we launched our social media publish of what had occurred was loopy. Over 21,000 individuals had learn the publish which is 10 instances as a lot engagement as we often get on social media.
“In case you bear in mind, Carman Hill went on fireplace a few months in the past. My good friend Jim had carried out a publish, with a photograph of the fireplace that evening, which stated that it signified the King’s coronary heart being restored and put to relaxation.
“I began greeting, to be trustworthy.”