A prize of £5 was o f fered for the best version

of a new first verse of the National Anthem.

On the whole the entries for this competition were disappointing— not in numbers but in quality. Entries came from Canada, Kenya and Malaya, and an Australian competitor made the suggestion, with which I have much sympathy, that the wisest course would be to adopt the music of Elgar's " Land of Hope-and Glory," set to new words (we don't want bounds wider yet). The difficulties admittedly were great. The metre of the existing National Anthem had to be preserved, for there is no prospect of displacing The metre. That limits the possibilities severely, but it gives considerable opportunities to resource. There seem to me to be certain requisites. A satis- factory version must have dignity, which the existing anthem so conspicuously lacks, and it must be simple. In such narrow confines every word must be made to tell ; there must be no weak or obvious or purely conventional adjectives. (Admiral Sir William James' otherwise attractive version needs something stronger than" happy " in the line " Grant her a happy reign.") A new anthem must endure, and therefore be so phrased that " King " and " Queen" can be interchangeable. That rules out several competitors who have rhymed " Queen " with " serene "—still more those who speak of " our youthful Queen." I feel that it rules out too those versions which speak only of " our country " or " our land " and make no reference to its sovereign.

There are few entries which meet all these demands. The Bishop of Plymouth 's, for example : To Thee, 0 God, we bring

Our country and our Queen ; Thy blessing give.

Grant us the power to fight 'Gainst evil for the right, And ever in Thy sight For truth to live.

will, in view of its second line, have to wait for Prince Charles' accession. Sir Charles Jeffries' version attracts me very much. It has dignity and in its fourth line an agreeable historical touch ; and it can be used equally for King and Queen. But I don't see what is to be done about the penultimate line, which throws metre to the winds and the orchestra into a gallop. But it should not be incapable of emendation ; in any case it amply merits quotation : Lord, by Thy power sustain

Her Thou hast called to reign, Our gracious Queen.

That she may faith defend, Hope, love and peace extend Join realm to realm, and friend to friend God save our Queen.

While a National Anthem must not be written for the moment it may well—indeed it should—be written for the epoch. That in the end has determined my award of the first prize. Other versions have introduced the Conunonwealth in some shape or form. Dr. Hopkinson's, I think, is the most effective in that category, though in some ways it would be better as a second verse than a first. But I cannot forbear quotation of D. McG.'s written-for-the-moment effort (not submitted in confident hope of a prize) : May all our debts be paid ;

By further Marshall Aid Our slate be clean.

Then may America rush, And with atomic push, Red Russian schemes to crush, God save the Queen.

To those who contend, with some reason, that one verse of a National Anthem is not enough I would reply that the third verse of the existing anthem (emphatically not the second)—" Thy choicesf gifts in store "—will serve well enough. R. Kennard Davis has set something of a problem. He has sent three alternative versions (legitimately enough), and I have felt juslified in taking three lines from one and four from an other and awarding him a second prize. The other I award with a little hesitation to W. Bernard Wake, per- mitting the reference to the crown to compensate for the absence of specific reference to the sovereign.

The winners therefore are : FIRST PRIZE (H. C. HOPKINSON)

Not for these isles alone Endures thine ancient throne, God save our Queen. In lands across the sea Proud nations, brave and free, One world-wide family . Acclaim our Queen.

SECOND PRIZES (R. KENNARD DAVIS)

O Thou whose arm alone Upholds each earthly throne God save our Queen.

Guide, prosper, bless, sustain ; So may she long remain Throned in our hearts to reign God save our Queen.

(W. BERNARD WAKE)

God keep our ancient crown In honour and renown And guard this land.

For peace with justice made, On sure foundation laid, Unyielding, unafraid, Shall Britain stand.