AN INNERLEITHEN man has teamed up with Magnus Linklater and other distinguished figures to pen a book about one of the most significant episodes in Scottish history.

Malcolm Noble, 73, has written two chapters for a forthcoming publication about the Declaration of Arbroath.

Mr Noble, a former headmaster, told us: “I do rather a lot of writing but I would not describe myself as an expert [on the Declaration] – but I went to original sources as much as possible.”

The Declaration of Arbroath was a letter from the Scottish nobility to the Pope written on April 6, 1320. The most-quoted line is a statement of Scottish independence.

Mr Noble said the idea behind the forthcoming book, titled Conquered by No-one, was that 48 modern-day Scots would write about the 48 signatories to the Declaration.

But Mr Noble himself is writing about two individuals – William Ramsay, Earl of Dalhousie, and Malise IV, Earl of Strathearn.

Authors of other chapters include Linklater – former editor of The Scotsman – and historian Murray Pittock.

Mr Noble said: “What I see as the underlying justification of this publication is to try to raise the profile of the Declaration of Arbroath as the most significant document in Scottish history.”

Mr Noble said the 700-year-old document introduced the concept of government by consent to Scotland.

“I think that’s the critical thing and why it’s the most important document in Scottish history,” said Mr Noble.

“It’s recognised by the United States Senate as a contributing factor in the discussions that took place before the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and it’s something that has had a status in the English-speaking world for quite a long time, but lost its traction in Scotland.”

Mr Noble said a recent survey of Scots found that around a third did not know much about the Declaration.

The same poll revealed that many supporters of Scottish independence viewed the Battle of Bannockburn as more important, said Mr Noble.

Asked for his own thoughts on Scottish independence, Mr Noble noted that he has lived in England for many years so would not be allowed to participate.

But if he were permitted, he would choose to remain in the United Kingdom, he said, albeit with the hope that a federal system would eventually emerge.

Mr Noble said: “I don’t think Scotland is going to stay as it is – I think decisions in the main should be made in Edinburgh but I believe in shared sovereignty and I think there’s a value in being part of the UK.”

He added: “I’m not yet persuaded that complete independence is in Scotland’s interests but I certainly think we should be going a lot further in that direction than we are at the moment.”

Mr Noble is the chairman of the Royal Caledonian Trust, a charity that supports the education of Armed Forces children. He is immediate past president of the Caledonian Society of London.

During his career as a teacher, he was headmaster of Bexley, London, which was then the largest school in the capital. When he was a schoolboy himself, he attended Peebles High School.

Conquered By No One will be published later this month by Hammer & Mirror Books. The editor is Aberdeen University lecturer Neil McLennan.