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The Founding of Mensa

4 Extra Debut. Rachel Gillman speaks to Ian Fergus about a chance meeting on a train that sparked the high IQ club, Mensa. From 2016.

In 1946, Roland Berrill and Lancelot Ware were travelling on a train when they sparked up a conversation about intelligence testing.

That chance encounter sparked the high IQ club, Mensa.

Rachael Gillman speaks to the society's archivist Ian Fergus about those early days.

Producer: Rachael Gillman

First broadcast on the BBC World Service in 2016.

18 hours left to listen

15 minutes

Last on

Mon 28 Sep 2026 01:45
BBC Radio 4 Extra

Broadcasts

  • Mon 3 Oct 2016 08:50
    BBC World Service except News Internet
  • Sun 27 Sep 2026 06:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 27 Sep 2026 11:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 27 Sep 2026 17:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 28 Sep 2026 01:45
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

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