Collection UR-SF 63 - John Berridge, Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science and Social Policy, University of Dundee

Born in 1927 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, John Berridge was educated at Luton Grammar School. On leaving school he spent some time as an officer in the Ghurkas then as a forester and lab technician.

He completed a teacher training course in Winchester but after two years teaching, opted to study for a degree. Studying logic, English and philosophy at Birkbeck College, Berridge became involved in student politics, winning the presidency of the London University Union. He was then encouraged to begin a degree in politics and international relations at the London School of Economics, where he won the Beveridge Trophy for political debating.

After graduating, he taught first at Kingston College then moved to Dundee University where he specialised in international organisations, particularly the European Union. As Senior Lecturer, Berridge retired after 31 years in 1995, but retained his links with the University as honorary lecturer in contemporary European studies until 2006.

Berridge served in Ted Heath's shadow cabinet, sitting on the policy committee for Scottish devolution and was asked to write the Conservative party's draft devolution paper. Berridge himself was against completely devolved power for Scotland.

John Berridge married Margaret in 1960. They had two sons, Jonathan and Tim. In later years, he suffered from multiple sclerosis which curbed his enthusiasm for his pursuits of hillwalking, fishing, painting and birdwatching. Berridge also served as Justice of the Peace, and was active in the Association of University Teachers. He also relished political debate and termed himself a 'Tory Marxist'. Berridge died in Dundee 10 June 2010.
Source: John Berridge obituary, 'The Scotsman', p41, Friday 18 June 2010