LET'S tub-thump. Let's be proud. Just for a moment, let's not run ourselves down.

The build-up to yesterday's celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar has all been about the politically correct nonsense of having a re-enactment between the reds and the blues so as not to offend the French and the Spanish - even though the history book on the shelf says they lost in 1805.

But looking at yesterday's spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime pictures, it was easy to forget that particular row. It was not, though, possible to overlook that the ships from 35 other countries that had come to take part in our pageant. It was the place to be on the seven seas and it was impeccably organised by the British (apart, of course, from the weather).

We British have a profound understanding of our own history. In fact, yesterday's reds versus blues re-enactment underlined that. For if we had still been at the French's throats, if we had still regarded them as the out-and-out enemy, it would have shown that we had learned nothing at all from 200 years of history. History shows that although brave men die in the name of their country, wars are best avoided as a way of solving international differences.

The Trafalgar commemoration over, we dip back into Wimbledon - with its history and tradition, one of the greatest sporting tournaments in the world - and arrive at the weekend of G8 and Live8.

It may be a quirk of rotas that has put Britain in the chair of the G8, but it is our British politicians who have taken the lead in attempting to eradicate world poverty.

Their ideas may be flawed - writing off debts may only be giving corrupt dictators more money to squander - but the rest of the world isn't coming up with anything better.

The British voice is the only voice - and it will be amplified around the world by the Live8 concert which will be watched by millions, probably billions.

And there isn't much choice, for history wouldn't forgive us if we turned a Nelsonian blind eye and did nothing.