DAVID Bookbinder led Derbyshire County Council from 1981 to 1992 – a period he later referred to as "11 years' hard labour".
He gained national prominence through his many political battles, not least with Margaret Thatcher who once described him as her "least favourite" council leader.
One commentator, after Mr Bookbinder stood down, said he had turned a "sleepy, predominantly rural county" into a "hotbed of fiery urban socialism".
Some of his ideas were ahead of their time – including banning the cane in Derbyshire's schools and banning the use of live animals from travelling circuses.
Arguably, the pinnacle of his achievements was persuading Toyota to build its European production centre in Derbyshire.
The company announced in 1989 that it would build the factory at Burnaston.
The decision was a huge and welcome boost for jobs, the economy and local pride.
Toyota decided to manufacture its Carina E at the plant and the first car rolled off the production line on December 16, 1992.
Mr Bookbinder resigned in the same year, having guaranteed himself a future income by accepting the role of executive chairman of the Derbyshire Enterprise Board.
He remained a member of Labour party until 2003 when he quit over the Iraq war, though he had become disillusioned with Tony Blair's leadership long before.
Today, he is chairman of Derbyshire First Investments Ltd, formerly Derbyshire Enterprise Board Ltd. He married Chinese wife Wang Yi in 2009 having successfully fought cancer.
His other love, he says, is Manchester City Football Club.