Dame Vera Lynn really was "the singer who won the heart of a nation" (The Argus Weekend, February 23).

I wonder if readers also remember "the professor who won the minds of a nation", C E M Joad, in the wartime Brains Trust - a Sunday afternoon broadcast, invented and produced by Howard Thomas, which also had one of the largest audiences of listeners yet, eclipsed only by ITMA.

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Cyril Joad's death. On Saturday, April 5 and Sunday April 6, 2003, at South Stoke Farm near Arundel, a commemorative Joad weekend will take place in tribute to his life and work.

I would be genuinely grateful to hear from anyone who has any story, anecdote, memory, book or pamphlet on or by Joad, which will be made part of the weekend in some way.

No Joad weekend would be complete without an original Brains Trust session so if there are any questions you would like to submit to a yet-to-be-decided panel of five experts and questionmaster, please send them to me. The BBC's Any Questions and Question Time are direct descendants of the original Brains Trust idea.

Any other support or assistance you feel able to give, however small, will be enormously appreciated. Write or call me on 0771 358 8034 (day) or 01293 535778 (evenings and weekends).

-Richard W Symonds, 14 Lavington Close, Ifield, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 0HX