<P> Five lively Gilbert and Sullivan tunes also appear in the soundtrack, and serve as jaunty period music which nicely counterpoints Vangelis's modern electronic score . These are: "He is an Englishman" from H.M.S. Pinafore, "Three Little Maids from School Are We" from The Mikado, "With Catlike Tread" from The Pirates of Penzance, "The Soldiers of Our Queen" from Patience, and "There Lived a King" from The Gondoliers . </P> <P> The film also incorporates a major traditional work: "Jerusalem", sung by a British choir at the 1978 funeral of Harold Abrahams . The words, written by William Blake in 1804 - 8, were set to music by Parry in 1916 as a celebration of England . This hymn has been described as "England's unofficial national anthem", concludes the film and inspired its title . A handful of other traditional anthems and hymns and period - appropriate instrumental ballroom - dance music round out the film's soundtrack . </P> <P> The beach scenes associated with the theme tune were filmed at West Sands, St Andrews . A plaque commemorating the filming can be found there today . The very last scene of the opening titles crosses the 1st and 18th holes of the Old Course at St Andrews Links . </P> <P> All of the Cambridge scenes were actually filmed at Hugh Hudson's alma mater Eton College, because Cambridge refused filming rights, fearing depictions of anti-Semitism . The Cambridge administration greatly regretted the decision after the film's enormous success . </P>

Where were beach scenes from chariots of fire filmed