Latin - a living language

Dum spiro spero, nihil desperandum, ad infinitum, et cetera. That is more or less the extent of my Latin vocabulary.

Just over 80 years ago, at the start of the war, I was evacuated, voluntarily, to live with my Auntie Flo, transferring to Cardiff High School. 

I was in the arts ‘stream’ - I had no idea of or intention to take up science - and I learned French, German and Latin.

The German lessons stopped abruptly when the aptly named Mr (Herr) Walter Wagner left to join the army. He was  British, not a spy.

For my first year of Latin I enjoyed being hailed as a budding genius but I had had the unknown advantage of two years on the subject at my London school.

As the terms passed my halo dimmed and I struggled, but somehow managed a credit at my final examination. 

All this came to mind with the government announcement that Latin is to be included in more schools in a pilot scheme in England. The reason - it is now seen as too elitist and is taught mainly in public schools. 

I don't agree with that view. I have found my basic Latin useful in journalism and writing generally and, like French, it has made it rich and colourful.

Our language, in writing and speech, is evolving all the time, marred too often by the woeful misuse or overuse of some words - awesome, great, impact (affect) and other here-today-gone-tomorrow words. Lazy writing and speaking.

Latin was first used by the Romans  about 2,700 years ago  and it is good to see it is still is still holding its own - pro bono publico, as they say.