British boys patriotic
by MATTHEW CHARTERS, aged 14, son of “The Press” correspondent in London, Robin Charteris When I went on a school trip to France recently one thing I was surprised at was how well all the boys knew so many songs — and how patriotic they were. Their answer when asked why, was: "Don’t really know. Could be all the football.” I’m sure they’re right. Everybody sings so many football-soccer songs here that you wonder if they enjoy the singing more than the games. To tell the truth, it was just like being at a football match on our coach. The boys could turn anything into a song if they wanted.
“Raymond, Raymond, give us a wave” was one example. Then they would burst into “Eeio-Eeio-Eeio” .. .“England, we love you, we love you, England, we do ...” Some people say the British have lost their patriotism. I don’t agree,
not about the young ones, anyway, after being here and going.on this trip. Later during the journey one of the teachers suggested we sing “Rule Britannia.” I laughed to myself, thinking there was no way he could get them to sing that. Suddenly, everyone on the coach, except me, burst into chorus. It certainly surprised me to hear them singing so lustily their number two national song off by heart. It made me think I should learn New Zealand’s national song properly. After the screaming and chanting of the footytype songs, “Rule Britannia” was pleasant to the ear. All the boys were in perfect time, just as though they were a wellrehearsed choir.
Once the third verse was sung for the second time, we all swung into another sesssion of “England we love you, England we do ...”
If that’s not patriotism, What is?
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Press, 2 September 1986, Page 18
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292British boys patriotic Press, 2 September 1986, Page 18
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