60 Faces: JB Priestley -

J. B. Priestley was an English writer and broadcaster who was famous for his BBC radio broadcasts during the Second World War. These talks were eventually cancelled, reportedly for being too left-wing.

Disillusionment with the Labour party’s nuclear policy in 1957 led to an outpouring of public feeling on the issue. An article by Priestley in the New Statesman magazine calling for unilateral disarmament captured the popular mood. Readers responded to such an extent that the editor suggested that a mass movement was needed and called a meeting. Priestley went on to become a founding member of CND as vice-president and spoke at the public launch.

Priestley was not one for committee meetings, instead preferring to make his contribution with public events and creative actions.

What is 60 faces of CND?
2018 is the 60th anniversary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Founded in 1958 at the height of the Cold War, CND has been a powerful collective voice against the dangers of nuclear weapons.

CND’s greatest strength has always been its members.
Incredible people have shaped our history,
our present and will continue to inspire in the future.

Here we take a look at 60 Faces of CND,
60 people who represent all the millions of people
who have campaigned for nuclear disarmament over the decades
and have made our organisation so remarkable.

60 Faces homepage