Public help sought to trace panel stolen from The Great Tapestry of Scotland on display in Kirkcaldy

The panel illustrating the story of Rosslyn Chapel was removed from the display at around 10am yesterday (Thursday) and now the public are being asked to help track it down.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland is one of the biggest community projects in the world, with 160 individual panels, lovingly stitched by more than 1,000 volunteers.

The Tapestry has been on display at Kirkcaldy Galleries since June and in that time over 50,000 people have been amazed and delighted by the scale, quality and exuberance of the design and fantastic detail of the stitching.

Following the theft, Fife Cultural Trust is working closely with police to review CCTV footage.

Laurie Piper, head of external relations for Fife Cultural Trust said: “We are proud and delighted to be able to have the Great Tapestry here on loan, and to give the people of Fife the opportunity to experience this amazing artwork at first hand.

“The tapestry has been exhibited all over the country and has been seen by over 300,000 people since it first started touring.

“The people of Fife have taken the tapestry to their hearts and we are now hoping that they will help us to bring it back where it belongs - alongside its 159 companions.”

The panel was designed by artist Andrew Crummy and lovingly stitched by volunteers in Midlothian. The panel took hundreds of hours to create and has now been stolen from the people of Scotland.

Alexander McCall Smith, co-chairman of The Great Tapestry of Scotland, said: “This is a terrible blow for a project that has brought so much joy to so many people.

“I appeal to those who have taken this panel to return it.

“Words cannot express how shocked I am that somebody should damage in this way what is now widely seen as a great national treasure.”

Members of the public who may have information regarding the whereabouts of the Rosslyn Chapel panel are urged to get in touch with the local police on 101 or Fife Cultural Trust on 01592 583204.

The tapestry will remain open to the public at Kirkcaldy Galleries until September 20.