High School Ring Vanished in Texas Reappears in Scotland After 56 Years
November 22, 2024
In an unexpected turn of events, an American high school ring from 1966 has been uncovered on a beach in Kirkcaldy, Scotland.
A treasured possession lost by Bruce Walker, a 76-year-old resident of Beaumont, Texas, has been located over 4,500 miles from where it was last seen. The ring disappeared in 1968 during a wedding reception in Dallas, where it was inadvertently “loaned” to a bridesmaid and not returned.
Bruce and Kathryn / The Scottish Sun
The discovery was made by Andrew Craft, an amateur treasure hunter using a metal detector along the Scottish coastline. While searching for Viking relics, he stumbled upon the gold ring engraved with “Nacogdoches High School,” the year “1966,” and the initials “RBW.” Craft reached out to the school’s alumni association, who helped track down the owner, Robert Bruce Walker.
Coincidentally, Mr. Walker was touring Scotland with his wife, Kathryn, when the ring was found. They were reunited with the ring when their cruise ship made a stop in Greenock, Inverclyde.
“I was surprised to learn that it had been found in the shoreline by a metal detectorist in Fife,” Walker said. “One of our favorite series on Netflix is Detectorists with Mackenzie Crook. My wife thinks that it’s hysterical that a detectorist found the ring. I can’t imagine how it got to Scotland, but I’m going to try to find out more about its chain of custody.”
The reunion was marked by a celebratory champagne gathering aboard the cruise ship Atlas World Voyager. Mr. Walker found it fitting that champagne was present both at the time of the loss and at the recovery of the ring.
“My wife points out that it is interesting that Champagne was involved when I lost the ring and when I reunited with the ring during a Champagne reception on the Atlas World Voyager cruise ship 56 years later.”
Ensuring its safety, the ring is now under the care of Kathryn Walker.
