HILARY WALTERS,
Sir, - At a time when the newspapers are full of reports of the revival of interest in the classical world, it seems perverse and short-sighted that the academic council and senate at Queen's University should be abolishing the only classics department in Northern Ireland.
All the indications are that the subject is thriving in local schools and numbers are growing in the university. Irish scholarship in the classics is renowned. It kept the light of learning alive in the Dark Ages when England was sunk into barbarism.
This great and honourable tradition is in danger of being destroyed, and local people will be all the poorer if this move goes ahead.
I urge the university to reconsider its decision. - Yours, etc.,
HILARY WALTERS, President, Association for Latin Teaching, West Bridgford, Nottingham, England.