On Christmas Day in 1950 four young Scots retrieved the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey.

Used as the coronation stone of the Scottish kings from the 10th century, and supposedly a relic from biblical times, the stone was taken to England by Edward I as a symbol of his overlordship. A group of four Nationalist students removed it and took it north of the border in a Ford Anglia. It remained hidden until they placed it in Arbroath Abbey in April 1951, where it was discovered and returned to England. In 1996 the stone was placed in Edinburgh Castle amid much ceremony on St. Andrew's Day.

Today in 1745 the Jacobite army reached Glasgow. The military campaign to return a Catholic Stewart king to the throne in place of the Hanoverian Protestant King William III was initially very successful. After winning a series of battles they marched south, getting as far as Derby. The army was tired from the long march, and Prince Charles' tacticians were determined that it would be a mistake to attack London, so they instead turned back north, against the wishes of the prince, reaching Glasgow on Christmas Day.

Today's recipe: these gingerbread pancakes will provide a sophisticated start to Christmas celebrations.