SIR: May I add my own personal tribute to James Atwell to the many others I am sure are pouring in (Chronicle, December 17).
He was always so wonderfully supportive of the Winchester Festival, that when the Chronicle reported the launch of the £20.5m Cathedral Appeal in 2012 I immediately wrote to him suggesting a series of Celebrity platform interviews to raise awareness of the Appeal – entitled The Winchester Dialogues. His response was typically immediate, inviting me to meet him to discuss the list of leading figures in the Church, politics, the arts and the media. He wrote the most persuasive letters of invitation, and to our delight everyone agreed in principle immediately. Finding possible dates took rather longer because of all their busy schedules, but we managed it over several months.