Letter: Festival ditched our anthem

Tuesday 28th July 2009, 8:39AM BST.

union-flag-blurredLETTER: Regarding Ludlow Festival play at Ludlow Castle. In 2008 the national anthem was not played at the beginning of the play.

I have been attending the event since the mid 1970s and was shocked at this.

I wrote to the committee and was later informed that the matter was discussed, following many other comments, and it was decided to reinstate the practice for the 50th anniversary season in 2009. However, it wasn’t.

I made an inquiry this year and have been informed it had been discussed at length and a strong majority felt the anthem should not be played. What a letdown and disgrace. It’s the 50th anniversary and no Queen to sing to. Are we tiptoeing around the audience now?

It was interesting that at the London Male Voice Choir concert at the festival, the national anthem was played and sung at the beginning and the Welsh anthem played and sung at the end.

Perhaps many could do with taking a leaf out of their book of principles.

B J Rogers

Craven Arms


  1. 1
    ANDREW FINCH

    This is an absolute disgrace and shame on all involved.”A strong majority thought it should not be played”… WRONG… A small group of unpatriotic oiks decided it should not be played when our troops are out and at war every chance to play OUR national anthem should be taken up.
    ALL involved are a disgrace and should hang their heads in shame,, a total bunch of pc glory boy/girls in my view.

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  2. 2
    Robert Jenkins

    Hear, hear Andrew. It’s not a case of the audience disliking the national anthem, but of someone on the committee exercising a little initiative in republicanism or europhilia, evidently. When the Borough of T&W flew the EU logo instead of the Union flag above Civic offices, it was ultimately revealed to be at the personal wish of the Council Leader, the borough electorate were never consulted. Such instances of bias and abuse of position are a complete disgrace and must always be challenged and exposed.

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  3. 3
    Roundhead

    It never fails to amaze me just what some people can get aerated about. If you’re so desperate to hear the national anthem, dirge that it is, why not just sing it yourself. And stand up while you’re doing it. Then the rest of us can get along with worrying about the important things.

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  4. 4
    Andrew finch

    Well roundhead im sure many at the event would have liked the choice .And you can go off and worry about all these other things you have to worry about.

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  5. 5
    john

    Get over it.There’s more important things in life.

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  6. 6
    twisting my melon

    i don’t think a story as important as this should be covered by a local papers, get the bbc world service and reuters on this story immediatly

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  7. 7
    idontbelieveit

    Those of you who feel that this is not important go and focus on those things you see are more worthy of your time.
    For me I agree with Andrew Finch, this is a disgrace.

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  8. 8
    Andrew finch

    I agree if you have got so much to worry about why concern yourself with this ?.I suggest you go and concern yourself with these other issues whether it be saving the whale or some limp wristed liberal type thing or something nothing to do with the uk.

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  9. 9
    aerkid

    It is indeed a sad disgrace and it is ironic that other Countries I have visited who go to great lengths to preserve or establish a national identity or heritage! ……. whilst here in the UK elements are rushing to discard theirs! ……

    It would seem that the Axis powers of WW2 needn’t have bothered to try and conquer these Islands! …… they should have left us to our own devices! …. and we will do it to ourselves! ………

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  10. 10
    English Exile

    God save the Queen is hardly a National Anthem is it?
    Neither is Jerusalem.
    Land of Hope and Glory……….. yes as long as you are NOT English.

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  11. 11
    aerkid

    “God save our gracious Queen,
    Long live our noble Queen,
    God save the Queen:
    Send her victorious,
    Happy and glorious,
    Long to reign over us:
    God save the Queen.

    O Lord, our God, arise,
    Scatter her enemies,
    And make them fall.
    Confound their politics,
    Frustrate their knavish tricks,
    On Thee our hopes we fix,
    God save us all.

    Thy choicest gifts in store,
    On her be pleased to pour;
    Long may she reign:
    May she defend our laws,
    And ever give us cause
    To sing with heart and voice
    God save the Queen.*

    Sure looks and sounds like a “National Anthem” to me! …….. and if you research! ….. of considerable Historical background! ….. it never ceases to amaze why some elements want to alter, eradicate and rewrite History! ……..

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  12. 12
    Andrew Finch

    Perhaps English exile (if that is the case then i am not realy bothered about his/her opinion)could tell us what a national anthem sounds like?? .I think the united kingdoms anthem is pretty good and spot on.

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  13. 13
    confused

    Its not often I agree with Andrew Finch, but here I do 100% … it is our National Anthem.. people seem to be scared to show they care about our country, Ive been brought up properly to stand and respect our national anthem ! God Save our Queen !

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