FREEDOM of speech is a wonderful thing as it allows ill informed and badly researched letters such as the one from Peter Bellan concerning the national anthem to be printed for all to see.

Firstly, the national anthem has been sung a darn sight longer than 70 years, I believe it is nearer 300 years give or take. As for Mr Bellan’s assertion that he could only find evidence of four verses, where on earth did he look?

I have known for many years there are six verses, the sixth one containing the notorious line ‘Rebellious Scots to crush’. The fact, according to Mr Bellan, that nobody knows how many verses there are shows a true disinterest in the national anthem beyond singing it with jingoistic fervour at sporting occasions.

And for the record ‘Deutschland Uber Alles’ is not the German national anthem, it is ‘Deutschlandlied’ and has been since 1922, getting your history from dodgy comedies set in World War Two is worse then your choice of lyric websites, Mr Bellan.

It is time for the national anthem to be changed, it is outdated and does not stir up the passions of ‘La Marseillaise’ or ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ for example, apart from the fact that many people, while being deeply royalist, do not believe in the Christian God.

I am myself an ardent royalist, but also an atheist, I will not sing an anthem that expects me to call to a non existent deity to save the monarch I love and respect, although I sing the Welsh national anthem with heart bursting with pride.

Our national anthem should not have any mention of religion in it, it should be one similar to the Welsh anthem, singing of pride for our country. So that excludes Mr Bellan’s suggestions, all of which have religious overtones.

It is time that a new anthem be written from scratch, maybe just adding lyrics to a well know classical piece would suffice, who cares, so long as it brings a sense of real pride to whoever sings or hears it performed regardless of their religious or secular beliefs, whether republican or royalist or citizen or immigrant.

In the meantime Mr Bellan, if you want a more easily digestible and entertaining way to learn a little history you really should watch either QI or Horrible Histories as both are far more accurate than the sources you currently use.

DIANE RHODES

Haverfordwest