Sir.-I read with interest last week's informative report on local testing for entrance to Mensa.

Some of your readers may also wish to know that, while our principal objective is, in short, the investigation and furtherance of intelligence - a task which necessitates the collaboration of individuals who are themselves highly intelligent (hence the membership eligibility criterion) - Mensa also provides an extensive social network. This ranges from international programmes to a variety of informal events locally (including Basingstoke).

Members participate to whatever degree suits them.

While this provides a setting for (literally) like-minded people which may be hard to find elsewhere, non-member guests are welcomed.

The "club" is far from "exclusive".

-Rick Dady,
Member of British Mensa,
Woolford Way,
Basingstoke.