Former Dundee Lord Provost John Letford is lifting the lid on his long and latterly controversial career in a book which will be launched this week.
“Fae the Boatyaird to Buckingham Palace” represents a life given to public service.
The autobiography contains hitherto unrevealed stories about family, politics in Dundee and civic responsibilities, and he said “nothing is left out.”
The veteran politician sensationally resigned from the Labour Party to become lord provost for the city’s SNP administration in 2009.
His move ended decades-long friendships and political affiliations with former Labour colleagues.
It broke a damaging stalemate at the City Chambers that resulted from the SNP taking 14 of the council’s 29 seats in that year’s election and not being able to form an overall majority.
With the other parties unable to unite to form an administration, Mr Letford defiantly quit Labour to become an independent councillor.
He then won the SNP’s backing to hold onto the chain of office and allow council business to continue.
His actions earned the praise of the SNP group, whose leader and current administration leader Ken Guild described him as “an excellent ambassador for the city.”
Mr Letford, who is now 81, stayed in the post until 2012 when he stood down as a councillor.
His 11 years as lord provost made him the longest-serving civic head in the UK since the nineteenth century.
Born in Aberdeen, he moved to Dundee in 1943 and became a marine coppersmith at the Caledon shipyard . He did his National Service with the Royal Air Force.
He was a member of Tayside Regional Council before being elected to the city council, and was also Labour Party chairman for the Camperdown area which he represented as a councillor.
After attending scores of graduation ceremonies in his civic role, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Dundee University and he was made a Fellow of Abertay University.
A highlight of his career in public service was being awarded the MBE at Buckingham Palace.
His period as Lord Lieutenant of Dundee brought him into contact with the Royal Family on a number of occasions but was noted for never losing sight of his working life.
After his political career his dedication to the city has continued through his chairmanship of the Whitehall Theatre Trust and support of the city’s twinning associations.
Mr Letford will be in in conversation with Eddie Small at the D’Arcy Thomson Lecture Theatre, Old Hawkhill, on Thursday to mark the publication of the book at an event organised by literarydundee.
