Bannockburn is a word of magical power for Scots. Bellowed at the sky or muttered under the breath, those three syllables conjure images of stubborn warriors, of faith in a dream, of clear-eyed determination to see the job done and damn the consequences. Such belief was in the very heart and soul of Robert the Bruce, who found the path to immortal victory at Bannockburn. Opponents who face one another across this majestic chess set should take inspiration from a man who never gave up, who understood that the strength to fight on comes from within. Let the game begin.
From his mother he inherited his gypsy good looks, charm, and an instinct for music, especially in song. From his father came his stubborn integrity and a passion for words. To him, Robert owed his mind. We remember RobertBurns as the singer of the parish who became the bard of the nation and a poet for the world. He told of ordinary things in an extraordinary way that still gives us new insights into who and what we are. This remarkable chess set reflects the faces and places of reality and fantasy that wove their way into his life. The poetry is embedded in the chessboard - and in the imagination of those who move the pieces.
"With an amazing eye for detail John Morgan has created two magnificent chess sets. Painstakingly produced from hand cast pewter, the Robert Burns and Battle of Bannockburn chess sets would grace the homes of any serious chess player or collector with a keen interest in Scottish history and literature. It is certainly rare that chess sets of this importance and stature become available and, in my view, both make a wonderful contribution to the long history of chess which dates back to c600 AD.”
