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Poll shows anthem can still rise now

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Critics who wanted to see Flower Of Scotland wither on the stalk have been sent homewards tae think again.

The unofficial Scottish anthem — which has been taking a hammering in The Courier’s letters column — has emerged the clear victor in our Song for Scotland poll.

Branded an anti-English, inflammatory dirge, the favourite of the terraces mustered the reinforcements to stage a Bannockburn-like fightback.

Perth reader Bob Ferguson spearheaded the attack with a volley on March 6 claiming Flower Of Scotland does the nation a disservice. Days later fellow Perth correspondent George K. McMillan launched a second salvo arguing that the anthem could lead to violence against English visitors.

With the song’s defences apparently breached, readers advanced their own suggestions for a more appropriate anthem.

We decided to put the matter to a readers’ vote and the result was overwhelming. We accepted telephone, email, online and postal votes and around 1600 were cast — with Flower Of Scotland taking 50.6%.

Next most popular was Scotland the Brave on 17.87%, followed by Caledonia on 10.64%, Auld Lang Syne on 3.16%, A Man’s a Man for A’ That on 2.97% and Hey, Johnnie Cope on just 0.57%. The other option we gave was ‘none of the above’, which attracted 14.19% of votes.

Even after our voting deadlines passed, readers continued to contact us with their suggested anthems.

One of the submissions received close to deadline was from Edward Preston of Glenrothes, who said, “Scots are too wrapped up in unhealthy nationalistic fervour to approve of an anthem based on a good, inspiring tune as is the case for America, Russia, Germany and France.

“We have to bleed, hurt, suffer and fight and have tears in our eyes when we think of mountains, glens, tartan and sheep.

“I think the best anthem would be Donald Where’s Yer Troosers. When the opposition are laughing our sports teams could pounce.”

Our list of options was by no means exhaustive and readers’ own suggestions included Highland Cathedral and Hail Caledonia.

Last night we contacted Bob Ferguson to inform him that readers had rejected his call for a new anthem.

“I am not surprised by the results, given some people’s limited knowledge of music and literature,” he said. “But my original argument was that Flower of Scotland is a song for a season, perhaps inspired by a moment in history in the 1960s when the nationalist movement was in the ascendancy.

“It fails to take into account the sweep of history that has shaped the character of this nation and so limits our ambition by ignoring our achievements.

“I am a patriot and know that Scotland can project a more positive image to other nations but also inwards to our own people.”

“Besides, Flower of Scotland is dreadful, the sort of chant that the Tartan Army could howl in the pub before another glorious defeat — but it should never be our national anthem.”The vote is closed, but the debate continues. Have your say in the comments below.