Popular teacher calls it a day after 38 years

WHEN young teacher Brian Haines travelled from his home in Exeter to Dover for an interview to join the staff of Dover Boys’ Grammar School, he was delighted to be told he had got the job ...for a year.

Now, 38 years later, he has just retired from the school having taught classics, including Latin and ancient history, and was surrounded by former colleagues, students and friends at a presentation ceremony to mark the occasion.

As a mark of the respect in which he is held, current students at the school paid for a plaque to be installed in the school hall to mark Mr Haines’ teaching career.

Head teacher Sally Lees said Mr Haines loved his subject and had passed that passion on to his students.

“He has also been supportive of the students, talking to them about their lives,” she said.

“He had a desire to serve, and that’s something he has done throughout his career.

He has a tremendous sense of humour and his strong Christian faith underpins everything he does.”

Mr Haines admitted that the workload had sometimes been heavy, and the work-life balance had been difficult.

He recalled the days of teaching in mobile classrooms, and even behind the curtains on the stage of the school hall.

He played cricket for the staff in a match against the boys, and led school trips to various places to give the students a better understanding of their subject.

“This school has been an important part of my life for such a long time,” he said, recalling some of the pupils who had inspired him.

He also paid tribute to the support he had received from his wife Marie.

They have four children, six grandchildren, and adopted a deaf 11-year-old Chinese girl.

“We may go and spend some time in China, working in a school there,” he said.