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The University of Manchester is sorry to announce the death of Professor John Pickstone, aged 69, following a short illness.Professor Pickstone was one of the nation’s most important historians of science, technology and medicine, and tireless champion of Manchester's heritage.He was the founding Director of the Centre of History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM) at the University of Manchester and was founder of the Manchester Histories Festival, the UK’s leading event of its kind.Born and raised in Burnley, Lancashire, his education took him to Cambridge, London, Ontario and Minnesota.He returned to the north west when he was appointed to the Department of History of Science and Technology, at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) to work on the history of hospitals in the Manchester region.In 1985, he moved to the Victoria University of Manchester and established CHSTM, which he directed until 2002 when he became a Research Professor.His most recent work was on the history of modern medicine and medical technology, especially the recent history of the NHS. He also had a long-standing interest in the regional history of science and medicine.