'Someone who read classics at Oxford can talk to clients about the Aeneid, but not business,' according to Makbool Javaid of DLA, in discussing recruitment policies in City law firms (see [2003] Gazette, 2 October, 9).

However, an Oxbridge classical education did not prevent Stuart Lyons CBE from distinguishing himself in business, becoming chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Doulton, and translating the Horace Odes into English verse.

If City law firms discriminate against trained classical scholars, they and their business clients will be the losers.

Trevor Lyttleton, solicitor, London