An anthem to soothe the national psyche

Last Night of the Proms. ‘What a difference it would make to the national psyche if every time we sang the national anthem we sang “May Britain’s power depend on war no more”,’ writes Clive Barrett. Photograph: Matt Kent/WireImage

Your editorial on national anthems (5 January) reminds me of imprisoned conscientious objectors in 1916. In the face of taunts that they were unpatriotic, they promoted a vision of a nation based on equity and internationalism. One wrote on the wall of his cell in Richmond Castle, “Let the nations see that men should brothers be” – lines from an official verse of the national anthem, written by William Hickson in 1836. Hickson wrote other verses, too. My favourite ends: “May peace her sway extend, Foe be transformed to friend, And Britain’s power depend on war no more.” What a difference it would make to the national psyche if every time we sang the national anthem we sang “May Britain’s power depend on war no more”.
Clive Barrett
Chair, Peace Museum, Bradford

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