War cry anthem

Alastair Clark misconstrued my initial criticism of Flower of Scotland as being a personal attack on its composer, Roy Williamson (19 February). Roy was a fine musician whose sensitivity of performanceI admired greatly. Flower of Scotland is a perfectly good song, but it's a fact that it cannot be played "naturally" on our national musical instrument and is so wistful and sentimental in character that makes it unsuitable as our national anthem.

I am in complete agreement with David Roche (Letters, 23 February). A national anthem has to lift the spirits of the people as well as celebrate our identity and character as Scots. Scots Wha Hae is Scotland's Marseillaise.

We Scots have always had to fight for our national liberty and we're still fighting. Scots Wha Hae is a magnificent battle cry to stir the blood and get the fire going in the belly, especially when sung at a bright and jaunty marching tempo, and far more inspirational than Flower of Scotland.

COLIN CI DOUGLAS

Mansfield Road, Scone, Perthshire