Pupils and teachers thank retiring Brian

Report by Rhys Griffiths

A TEACHER has celebrated the end of a 38-year career at Dover Grammar School for Boys - despite initially joining the school for just one year.

Brian Haines, who taught Latin and ancient history, started work at the school in 1971 sifter graduating with a degree in classics from Exeter University.

The 60-year-old thought he was taking on a short-term contract in Dover, but ended up spending the whole of a long and satisfying career in the town, seeing generations of boys pass through his classroom.

He said: “The abiding memory is the sheer joy of teaching pupils who are responsive to learning.

“I have served four head teachers and all of them I have found I have found easy to work with. I have also made good friends with colleagues through the years.

“Now I want to have a bit of a break, but I will be spending time with the grandchildren and have been booked in for babysitting. I am also hoping to travel and do some voluntary work.”

Mr Haines, who lives in Hythe with his wife Marie, met former pupils and colleagues for a retirement party at the school last week.

Head Sally Lees paid tribute to Mr Haines, thanking him for his contribution to the school over four decades.

She said: “There are many students and colleagues past and present who have reason to be grateful to him for the wonderful contribution he has made to the school over those years. Many of them had the opportunity to express their good wishes to him at his retirement evening.

“The current students of DGSB paid tribute to him at their final assembly of the year when they presented him with a plaque.

“Mr Haines is a man of great integrity and his strong faith underpins his relationships with all who have worked with him. We will miss him very much, and we wish him and Marie a very happy, rewarding retirement.”