WHAT I’M CALLED: John Tanner

My Age: 66

What I Do: I’m a Labour councillor for Littlemore ward on the city council and for Isis division on the county council. I’m the city’s board member for a cleaner, greener Oxford.

Where I Live: I’ve lived in Sunningwell Road, off the Abingdon Road, in Oxford for nearly 30 years. Before that we lived in Scunthorpe – from the ridiculous to the sublime!

Who I Love: Sue Tanner, my wife, who has put up with me for 42 years. And our two wonderful sons, their fantastic partners and our two adorable grandsons. Having kids is the best thing we ever did.

Happiest Year: Perhaps 2008, when I was Lord Mayor of Oxford, was able to retire from the day job at Citizens’ Advice, and helped Labour win back a majority on Oxford City Council .

Darkest Moment: Losing my seat and Labour control of the city council when I was council leader in 2000.

Proudest Boast: Taking the buses out of Cornmarket in Oxford, more recently helping Oxfordshire boost household recycling levels, and growing some of the best garlic in Oxford on my Cowmead allotment.

Worst Weakness: Liking the sound of my own voice and putting politics before my family.

Lessons Learned: The importance in politics of influencing other people’s thoughts and ideas, rather than just winning arguments and votes. You know you are succeeding when other people tell you what you want was their idea all along!

Dullest Job: Going to far too many long, boring meetings. But to achieve things for local residents it’s often necessary.

Greatest Shame: Failing twice under Labour governments to get one unitary council to run everything in Oxford, instead of the daft, undemocratic and inefficient split between county and city councils.

Lifelong Hero: Harold Wilson, Labour’s pipe-smoking Prime Minister and former Oxford don. He kept Britain and our young soldiers out of the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

Oldest Friend: My wife, Sue – we share so many memories and interests. She wins at Scrabble, helps me keep things in proportion and remembers all the birthdays!

Widest Smile: When Labour kicks out the Coalition Tories and Lib Dems at the next General Election. But it will only happen if we all stay united and go out and vote. Complaining won’t be enough.

Favourite Dream: Creating a prosperous low-carbon Oxford for all, with no fuel poverty, lots of renewable energy and thousands more low-carbon jobs. With our ground-breaking Low Carbon Oxford that dream is turning into reality.

Biggest Regret: Watching David Cameron and Nick Clegg destroy our school system, our health service, the welfare state, and the futures of so many young people.