John Henry Brookes – a small, gentle, modest man – seemed an unlikely candidate to be a role model, but he had a profound effect on education in Oxford.

Thousands of students have reason to be thankful to him for his vision and leadership.

He laid the foundations for the Oxford Schools of Technology, Art and Commerce to develop into Oxford Polytechnic and later Oxford Brookes University.

He was also instrumental in creating Southfield School in 1934, Cheney School in 1954 and Oxford College of Further Education in 1961.

Now to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Oxford School of Art in 1865, author Bryan Brown, of Abingdon, has written the first biography of a remarkable man who did more than anyone to shape the city’s education.

Born in Northampton in 1891, JHB, as he was known, had teaching and craftsmanship in his genes and became hugely influenced by the work of the Oxford-educated artist William Morris and other members of the Arts and Crafts movement.

His link with Oxford began in 1923 when he was given a temporary post at the School of Art after the head was taken ill.

He then became art master at a Sheffield school, but he had made such an impression in Oxford that in 1928, he was appointed head of the city’s School of Art.

At that time the school had two full-time staff and 90 students, mostly taught in the evenings in rundown buildings in Church Street, St Ebbe’s.

JHB set about his task with vigour, increasing the range of courses, improving standards, raising the school’s public profile and inviting experts to give lectures.

In 1934 the school merged with Oxford Technical School and JHB was appointed principal of the new Oxford Schools of Technology, Art and Commerce.

A year later, his contribution to education was recognised by the award of an honorary degree of Master of Arts by Oxford University.

With the number of courses and students increasing, JHB was forced to seek teaching space elsewhere. Classes were held in numerous premises scattered all over the city, resulting in students often having to walk long distances between lectures.

“The present position beggars description,” JHB wrote. “Students scarcely know the term elbow room”.

He kept in touch with his empire at first by bike and later in a Wolseley car supplied by the city education committee.

Sites in New Road, where Nuffield College now stands, and in Cowley Road, once home to Cowley Road Hospital, were considered for a new school, but abandoned in favour of 33 acres at Headington, part of the Morrell brewery family estate.

Amazingly, the city council rejected the plans in 1950, leading JHB to write: “We will teach our students on the steps of Martyrs’ Memorial if need be.”

After public protests, the council reversed its decision two years later and it was a proud day for JHB when Lord Nuffield laid the foundation stone of the new College of Technology, Art and Commerce on April 5, 1954.

When he retired in 1956, there were many tributes to him. He attended 17 retirement parties, prompting a comment that “I must be the best fed man in Oxford”.

There were even more tributes when he died in 1975, among them one which read: “We are all the better for having known him.”

Author Bryan Brown, a former student at Cheney School, who recommended the name Oxford Brookes University, writes: “Many generations of students, young people and citizens of Oxford benefited from his educational leadership and community spirit and owe a great debt to this modest, inspirational character.”

When talking about famous men associated with Oxford, John Henry Brookes is not a name that immediately springs to mind. Mr Brown hopes that his book will give proper recognition to this “unsung hero”.

* John Henry Brookes, The Man Who Inspired a University, is available at bookshops and online, priced £20. Bryan Brown is donating his royalties to art and design projects at Oxford Brookes University in honour of JHB.