1950 - 1975

1950
In a daring nighttime raid, the Stone of Scone is stolen from but later returned to Westminster Abbey where it had rested uncomfortably since 1297.

1953
The Balfour Report recommends that the handling of government functions in Scotland be undertaken by the Scottish Office, which consequently will take upon itself much greater powers as a separate and distinctive arm of government.

1957
The Nobel Prize for Chemistry is awarded to Alexander Todd who synthesized the compounds flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and uridine triphosphate in 1954. He had earlier synthesized other compounds that form the structural units of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) thus contributing greatly to our understanding of the workings of genes.

1960
Publication of Gavin Maxwell's "Ring of Bright Water" about his life in the West Highlands with his two pet otters.

1961
Publication of Muriel Spark's "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie".

1964
The Forth Road Bridge is completed and opens to traffic.

1967
Miss Winnie Ewing of the SNP captures the seemingly safe Labour stronghold of Hamilton.

1968
At his party's conference in Perth, after realizing that Scottish Nationalism was a growing political force, British Conservative leader Ted Heath announces his support of a Scottish Assembly.

1973
The Kilbrandon Commission recommends that a Scottish Assembly be formed. Physicist Robert Alexander Watson-Watt dies. Inventor of radar, he was a major contributor to the RAF's success over the German Lufwaffe in WW II. SNP candidate Margo MacDonald is elected at Govan, another "safe" Labour constituency.

1974
The Scottish National Party wins eleven seats, taking nearly a third of all Scottish votes in the General Election. 1975 The Government publishes its plans for a devolved Scottish Assembly.