The Stedham Exhibition of Philosophy & Brains Trust Evening - Sunday April 7 2013 (Midday to 10pm) - To Mark The 60th Anniversary of South Downs Philosopher 'Professor' CEM Joad (1891-1953)

[Richard William Symonds]

Dear SDNP Forum Reader

 

It is a pleasure and a privilege to write on this Forum.

 

I am organising the Stedham Exhibition of Philosophy & Brains Trust Evening next month - Sunday April 7 2013 (Midday to 10pm) - to mark the 60th Anniversary of South Downs Philosopher 'Professor' CEM Joad (1891-1953).

His 50th Anniversary in 2003 was held at South Stoke Farm - the South Stoke Festival of Thought - a beautiful hamlet nestled in the South Downs, but which had yet to achieve National Park status at that time. Cyril Edwin Mitchinson Joad - CEMJ - played no small part in helping to set up certain National Parks in the late 1940's, but did not succeed with the South Downs - an area he deeply treasured and loved. If he was alive today, he would be absolutely delighted with its National Park status.

 

All of you are very warmly welcomed to this event. It will be held in Stedham Village Memorial Hall, and will start at Midday.

Refreshments will be provided.

 

Rev. Roger Williamson of St James' Stedham has kindly volunteered to act as 'Question Master', in an informal, friendly re-enactment of the wartime Brains Trust which was first broadcast on radio (there was no TV) in January 1941 - and to which the 'Professor' became a national celebrity with his catch-phrase "It all depends what you mean by...". He became what I would call "The Patrick Moore of Philosophy" in his day, popularising the subject for millions - and writing over 100 books on the subject.

The Brains Trust was the pioneering forerunner to what we now know today as "Question Time" and "Any Questions".

 

There is much I would like to say here about this 'Professor' - he never did officially reach that status at University of London's Birkbeck College although he set up its Philosophy Department in 1930 and remained there for 23 years until his death in 1953.

CEMJ's life and work has, for me, become "a hobby which has seriously got out of hand" - after reading his Teach Yourself Philosophy during the 1970's. I can answer any questions you might have about the event next month, and can provide further information.  

 

But enough said by me. I am writing to ask if you have a suggestion, idea, story, memory, anecdote, book or article regarding CEMJ and the Brains Trust. It would be a delight to hear from you.

 

Rev Roger Williamson will be 'David Dimbleby' for the Brains Trust evening, but we are actively seeking volunteer panellists.

 

Could you rise to the challenge - or do you know of anyone who could do so?

 

I look forward to hearing from you - either here on this Forum or via email : [e-mail] (preferred communication - I am very deaf).

 

Thanks. 

 

 

 

 

[Richard William Symonds]

CEM Joad loved & treasured the South Downs as a refuge & retreat, to escape from the the demands of London city life - and finally retired here.

He has not been alone in this respect - even Sherlock Holmes did the same!

http://www.sherlockholmesquotes.com/Sherlock-Holmes-Retirement-in-S...

[Richard William Symonds]

This has been published in "The Oldie" (April 2013 - Page 10/11 - 'The Old Un's diary')
(coincidentally there is a piece on Sir Patrick Moore alongside - just as there is in Sussex Life Magazine - Letters - March Issue)

"CELEBRATING JOAD"

'The Joad Society plans an exhibition on Sunday 7th Aorll to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of CEM Joad's death.
The outspoken philosopher and popular broadcaster lived in Stedham West Sussex in his final years, and did much to establish areas such as the South Downs as National Parks.

'The exhibition will take place in Stedham Village Memorial Hall, and plans to examine Joad's career as a philosopher, and to celebrate his broadcasting career, which popularised philosophy for millions on the 'Brains Trust'.

'Whether it will skirt over his downfall, after being caught dodging a train fare on the Waterloo-Exeter line, remains to be seen.

'The Joad Society calls for any reader with a memory, anecdote, book or article relating to Joad, to get in touch with Richard W. Symonds, 2 Lychgate Cottage, Ifield Street, Ifield Village, West Sussex RH11 ONN.
(email : [e-mail] )'

• We refer Mr Symonds to the October 2000 issue of 'The Oldie', which includes an article about Joad by Oliver Postgate, inspired creator of 'Bagpuss' and 'The Clangers', involving a surprise visit by the professor to the Ladies Toilet, in order to remove a pair of rain-sodden trousers - Ed

[Richard William Symonds]

"I am delighted that Joad's contributions to British life are being so fully recognised"

~ Gay Sturt - Archivist - Dragon School Oxford
(Joad was a pupil - 1896-1906 (Aged 5 to 15)

[Richard William Symonds]

FURTHER INFORMATION

1 (a) Alan Bennett "Untold Stories" (Page 185 - 30 March 1996)

"To Petersfield...via Midhurst..and Trotton (the village next to Stedham
- Ed)...St George's Church...Nosing about, I see leaned up against the
back wall in the vestry, a dusty reproduction of Botticelli's 'Mother
and Child' from the National Gallery of Art in Washington. It's
shielding a hole in the plaster, and has an old label stuck on it:
'From Professor Joad. BBC' ".

1 (b) Good of you to ask me to the Stedham Brains Trust, and it helps
clear up what has always puzzled me - what was the Botticelli
reproduction, with Professor Joad's name on it, doing in Trotton
church. Now that I know CEM Joad was a local man, all is explained.
Alas though, I can't come on April 7th as I hope to be in Yorkshire.
I'm also doing less & less public speaking, and on a Brains Trust
(unlike Professor Joad) I would be at a loss for words.
Thanks for asking me though, and all good wishes
~ Alan Bennett



2. "Professor Joad Celebration - 7th April" by Rev Roger Williamson of
Stedham Church.
Stedham with Iping News (March 2013)
(Rev Williamson has also volunteered to the the Question-Master for the
Brains Trust Evening at 7.30)
[e-mail]

Professor Joad (1891 – 1953) was well-known as a radio personality
within the lifetime of our more venerable residents, being a member of
the panel on the popular programme “The Brains’ Trust”. He was a
philosopher based at Birkbeck College London and spent part of his
retirement here in Stedham at “Meadowhills” just north of Stedham
Bridge.

During his period here in Stedham he converted from a robust
agnosticism to Christianity. There are well-known stories of him
attending Holy Communion in Stedham church with T.S.Eliot, who used to
stay with his publisher Sir Geoffrey Faber at Minsted House.

A colourful character, he is being remembered on the 60th anniversary
of the year of his death by members of the Joad Society, who feel
strongly that he has been unjustly neglected. In a period when the
relationship between secularism and Christianity is in the news, his
publications are well worth studying anew.

There will be an exhibition in the Village hall in Stedham on Sunday
7th April between midday and 7.30 p.m. It is planned to attempt to
re-enact the “Brains Trust” in the Hall starting at 7.30 p.m. All are
welcome to come to these events in recognition of one of Stedham’s most
distinguished residents.

[Richard William Symonds]

This letter has been published in the West Sussex Gazette (Wednesday March 13 2013) - "My father and Professor Joad" - Written by Sandra Saer of Arundel

 

"One perk of having been trained as a journalist was the development of an elephantine memory. Thus, although only small at the time, I can still see, in my mind's eye, my father listening attentively on our bulky Pye radio (with huge valves inside!) to the distinctive tones of 'Professor' Joad, talking on the BBC's Brains Trust during World War 2. His subject was philosophy, but I was too young to know that.

 

"As one who is 'long in the tooth' (or should it be 'tusk'?), I was delighted to learn through your columns (Letters to the Editor, 13 February), that Richard Symonds is currently putting together an Exhibition of Philosophy, celebrating the various facets of CEM Joad's life.

 

"It will be held on 7 April - appropriately in Stedham, where Joad spent his last years - although he had long lived elsewhere in 'South Downs Country'.

 

"How many of us knew, as Richard tells us, that Joad 'played no small part in helping to establish our National Parks, in the Post-War years'? I certainly didn't.

 

"If only my father was still around, to be at such a worthwhile event! Lest we forget..."  

[Richard William Symonds]

This hand-written letter was written by A.N. Other of Kingston Gorse - 16 February 2013

 

Dear Mr Symonds

 

As a teenager in the war, I often heard the Professor on the radio programme 'The Brains Trust'.

 

At the time he infuriated me because, in reply to most questions, he would preface his remarks with :  "It all depends on what you mean by -----".

He would then reiterate the key word, or phrase, in the sentence.

 

Later on I came to realise how right Professor Joad had been : you can only have a rational discussion if you define your terms.

 

Yours sincerely

   

[Richard William Symonds]

This hand-written letter was written by A.N. Other of Havant - March 8 2013:

 

 

Dear Mr Symonds

 

In response to the article in the current "Oldie" magazine, I gladly send you the enclosed books.

 

I am about to move into a small bungalow, and am having to subject my collection of books to a sizeable "cull".

 

I could not send send these small volumes to a better home!

 

Yours sincerely 

 

 

"Introduction to Modern Philosophy" by CEM Joad (Oxford University Press 1924)

"Modern Political Theory" by CEM Joad (Oxford University Press 1924)

"Opinions" by CEM Joad (Westhouse 1945)

[Richard William Symonds]

This hand-written letter was written by A.N. Other of Pulborough - 13 November 2012

 

Dear Richard

 

I am afraid I have nothing interesting to say about my reason for approaching you. Your letter in the West Sussex County Times simply brought back memories of my childhood during the Second World War, when we gathered round the "wireless" to listen to the Brains Trust.

 

In my head I can hear Joad as clearly as ever : "It all depends what you mean...".

 

Also, I have in my possession one of his books, "Why War?", which my mother acquired in 1939....

 

Yours sincerely

 

[Richard William Symonds]

This hand-written letter was written by A.N. Other of Hassocks

 

Dear Mr Symonds

 

Re : Brains Trust

 

It may not be relevant to your project, but I am sure you must be aware that "Desert Island Discs" evolved out of a question asked on "Brains Trust"

 

As I remember (60 years is quite a long time!), the question was : "Which 4 (or was it 6?) books would members of the panel like to have with them if shipwrecked on a desert island?"

Roy Plomley adapted this to its present form

 

Just thought I'd mention it. Hope I'm right. I certainly remember hearing the question - but not the answers!

 

Sincerely

 

(Richard Symonds Note : Roy Plomley wanted CEM Joad as his first guest on the first "Desert Island Discs". Joad was "too busy" at the time, and appeared on the programme much later) 

[Richard William Symonds]

This hand-written letter was received from A.N. Other (Mrs) of Hove:

 

Dear Mr Symonds

 

During my weekly turn out of the newspapers, I read your letter...

 

Through the mist of time, my mind went back some 60+ years. The war was in progress. London was being bombed. Working during the week, I attended Birkbeck College in Holborn during the weekends.

 

Professor Joad lectured on Philosophy. His lectures were always popular. Students, no matter what course they were taking, tried to attend if they were able.

 

We all loved his favourite saying which was : "It all depends on what you mean-----".

 

If you are looking for another subject to research - look at the struggle of women in the 1940's, as compared to the 1920's and the present dy. My memories of this are more personal.

 

I hope this was the type of memory that you wanted.

 

Yours sincerely

 

PS Please excuse the writing. An accident created havoc with my R. arm.