ST Peter's School's motto, super antiquas vias, translates as "upon the ancient ways". Rather ironic now, as the school wants to extinguish one of the ancient ways in Clifton.
The school makes much of its history, and its Latin motto adds to the sense of impressive antiquity. Yet the school is a relative newcomer in the history of Clifton.
In the 20th century St Peter's built part of its school "upon the ancient ways", and, according to records, tried to close the pathway then. Presumably it couldn't blame crime and anti-social behaviour in the 1930s. It failed to get its way on that occasion, and in the interests of the wider community, we have to hope that it fails now.
The path it wants to close is of great importance to the community around it, which it risks alienating further.
If the school succeeds, it will no longer be "super antiquas vias". Perhaps readers can suggest a more appropriate motto for the future?
Does anyone know the Latin for "trespassers will be prosecuted"?
Lisa Pickering,
St Olaves Road, York.
Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, November 24, 2004
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