Fines, John

Born in Lincolnshire in 1938 John Fines attended a local Grammar School before gaining a scholarship at Corpus Christie College, Cambridge where he graduated with a 2:1 honours degree in history. He continued his studies gaining a PGCE at the University of London and then achieved his PhD with the University of Sheffield. John worked as an assistant master at Newcastle-under-Lyme High School for boys then gained a lectureship at the City of Cardiff College of Education and finally transferred to a Senior Lectureship at Bulmershe College of Education before joining Bishop Otter College in 1969. John was to stay with the College in his role as Head of History throughout the colleges development until his retirement in 1991. During that time he witnessed the merger of Bishop Otter College, becoming known as the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education, Chichester Institute of Higher Education and later the University College Chichester.

John became internationally known for the methods and techniques he applied to teaching history. Having many years of classroom experience, John developed new ways of encouraging students to appreciate and gain interest in history. Amongst his ideas were ways of using drama and story-telling techniques to bring history to life.

Throughout his career he was a leading authority on teaching history in schools. To this end he produced many publications both in book and journal format, he also was involved with several Nuffield funded projects and was often asked to give both television and radio broadcast.

Even after his retirement from University College Chichester in 1991, he continued his interest in history and education culminating in becoming a Visiting Professor of Education at the University of Exeter in 1991 and his acceptance of the presidency of the Historical Association between 1994 - 1996.

From the guide to the John Fines Collection, 1956-1999, (University of Chichester)