Very inviting post

John Brooke, an internationally respected scholar in his field, never "put himself forward for the job" (Whistleblowers, THES, September 10). Rather, at the unanimous invitation of the other electors to the chair, he agreed to allow his name to be considered alongside others, and immediately withdrew from membership of the board of electors. At no stage did he instigate or submit an application for this post.

Colin Lucas Vice-chancellor, University of Oxford