Although the vast majority of records are musical, vocal or a combination of both, some of the most interesting recordings fall into neither category.

My favourite is The Voice Of Richard Dimbleby, which comprises extracts from his most famous radio and television broadcasts. For a quarter of a century, Dimbleby was the "voice of broadcasting" and was there to paint a picture in words at all the great state occasions and momentous events, from the outbreak of war to the funeral of Winston Churchill in the early Sixties.

When war ended in 1945, Dimbleby was one of the first into Belsen concentration camp and began his broadcast by saying: "I must describe this exactly, in all its horror, even if I feel sick as I talk."

One of his most memorable broadcasts was made from a bomber during an actual raid over Germany. He also sat in Hitler's chair while broadcasting from the remains of the Reichs-chancellery at the end of the war.

Dimbleby prepared meticulously for every broadcast and he attributed his famous unflappability and calm, reassuring manner to always having "done his homework" very thoroughly before every broadcast. He was therefore never stuck for words if anything went wrong, as it did at the wedding of Princess Margaret, when her honeymoon departure was delayed for 45 minutes. Dimbleby just kept on talking.

Listening to Richard Dimbleby's words made you feel you were right there and it is difficult to come to terms with the fact he died almost 40 years ago.

-Michael Parker, Lewes Road, Brighton