I DISAGREE with Richard Lewis, flying the flag and singing the anthem is the very basis of what he says, it instils the values that the rest of the world envies.

I am of an age where every morning we had assembly in school, sang songs of thanks, songs that marked a particular time of the year. The assembly taught respect to listen, it taught camaraderie in bring people together and it taught manners and it taught us who we were.

We had Poppy Day, we were taught that Britain helped build the world and that we had contributed to many of the things that made this world a better place. Across the world, Britain is respected for its traditions, its heritage and its pomp and ceremony.

I recall driving many times along the airport highway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and from a mile away you could see the British Airways aeroplane parked in its slot, easily identifiable by the union flag on its tail. It said to me “I going home”.

The best thing you can experience is the band of the Royal Marines, playing Jerusalem and seeing them march. I defy any British person not to swell. I am proud to be British and know this is the best country in the world, we need to give our children that same sense of pride, it’s what our fathers and grandfathers fought for, it’s our heritage, don’t give it away.

Andrew Davidson Bury