Bombardier fights for new anthem alongside St George's Day campaign

Bombardier bitter is following last year's St George's Day campaign with a high-profile battle for a new national anthem.

The beer, brewed by Bedfordshire-brewer Charles Wells, is known as the "Patron Pint" and the company has built on its English image.

Last year a website petition asking for St George's Day to be declared a bank holiday received more than 35,000 signatures and the brewer is hoping this year's campaign will be even more successful.

The campaign to modernise the national anthem has been chosen by Channel Four show the Big Breakfast to receive celebrity endorsement from presenter Richard Bacon.

It means he will now become a spokesman for the issue after hundreds of voters chose it over campaigns from National Marriage Week and the Campaign for Real Ale.

Meanwhile, research conducted by Bombardier has discovered that one in three people in England would like a new national anthem to coincide with the Golden Jubilee and the World Cup.

According to the poll, 79 per cent of people do not know all the words to God Save the Queen and 11 per cent do not know any.

Given a choice of alternative anthems, 38 per cent would prefer Land of Hope and Glory, 17 per cent Rule Britannia and 15 per cent Jerusalem. Andrew Lloyd Webber was top choice to compose a new song.

The campaign can be found at www.bombardier.co.uk/anthem.

Related stories:​

Bombardier re-launches St George's Day campaign (29 January 2002)

Bombardier gains new listings after St George's Day campaign (6 June 2001)

MP backs campaign for St George's Day public holiday (1 May 2001)

Bombardier battles on (5 April 2001)

Public backs St George's Day campaign (2 April 2001)

Hungry Horse backs St George bid (23 March 2001)