ARECENT radio 'phone in' poll revealed that public opinion is turning away from the idea of Britain becoming part of a federal Europe and all that that implies.

Instead, there is a growing trend in favour of the only practical alternative - a reunion of the English-speaking peoples of Britain, the Dominions and the United States of America.

These are nations which share a common heritage and destiny.

If we do need a new national anthem, it should reflect this coming political and social world order.

The reunion of Ephraim, the British, and Manassah, the Americans, is foretold in Biblical prophecy.

It can be summed up as follows:

Two nations by the seas,

Two peoples great and free,

One anthem raise,

Two lands of mighty fame.

One tongue one faith we claim,

One God whose glorious name,

We all shall praise.

These words or similar could be sung to the tune of our traditional anthem.

The Americans use the same tune when they sing their 'My country 'tis of thee.' Despite its critics, the tune is both majestic and dignified and should be retained.

TOMMY HOWARTH, Fowler Height Close, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.