Lawyer and former councillor; Born April 1, 1934; Died April 6, 2008. Leonard Turpie, who has died aged 74, was a lawyer and the Conservative opposition leader at the former Strathclyde Regional Council.

Born and bred in Glasgow, he attended Glasgow High School and then Glasgow University, throwing himself wholeheartedly into student life. He was president of the University Conservative Association and of the Glasgow University Dialectic (debating) Society during its 1950s heyday with contemporaries such as John Smith, Donald Dewar (whose best man he was), Vince Cable, Jimmy Gordon, Neil MacCormick and other now-familiar political names. Debates were well attended and knowledge that Len Turpie was speaking drew crowds. He loved the theatre of the occasion and thrived on the quality of the debate. He and Ronnie Anderson (his best man) won the English Speaking Union debating competition in 1958 and the prize was a trip to America to speak at student unions there.

As with all in his life, he embraced the opportunity, using it as an excuse to extend his time at university. Even when the financial necessity of earning a living triumphed, he continued to attend and speak at debates.

He was a lawyer for more than 40 years, and in 1974 moved from commercial to private practice in Partick. His over-riding belief was that the law existed to create and maintain a fairer and just society for all. He worked at Archibald Sharp & Son with his wife of 37 years, Deirdre, and was enormously proud that she was the senior partner and his boss.

His main passion was politics, driven by his belief that involvement led to a better society, and he stood unsuccessfully for a number of parliamentary seats - readily acknowledging that a Conservative candidate had no chance of success in Yoker, Govan, Greenock and Shettleston.

He was, however, successful in 1968 when he stood for election to the Kelvinside ward for the then Glasgow Corporation. This was the start of a 14-year, all-consuming relationship with local government. He continued to represent Kelvinside after the formation of Strathclyde Regional Council and was leader of the Conservative Group from 1972 to 1982.

His highly unexpected defeat in 1982 was greeted with dismay by representatives of all political parties. It was during Margaret Thatcher's first term, when sentiment against her ran high - a sentiment with which he had more than a passing sympathy. He was a strong supporter of devolution and believed passionately in effective local government, accountable to the people. He served happily on the Stodart Committee which helped shape the structure of local government in Scotland until 1996, and worked across the parties whenever that would be the most effective way.

Turpie believed that results for his constituents and the people of Glasgow were more important than receiving personal credit or apportioning blame, and this meant that he enjoyed close and productive relationships with representatives from across the political spectrum and considered Geoff Shaw and Dick Stewart, the Labour leader of Strathclyde Regional Council, to be mentors. He was enormously proud to be asked to deliver an address at Stewart's retirement party.

He loved Glasgow dearly, and spent all but eight months of his life living within three miles of his birth. He brought his legal training and political expertise to all his civic involvement, alongside his qualities of fairness, compassion and his sense of humour.

He was a long-standing justice of the peace and would not sign a warrant until he was satisfied there was a case. He worked, along with Norrie MacFarlane and others, to re-establish Glasgow High School after its demise in 1976.

In the early 1970s, he served on the South of Scotland Electricity Board and then the Greater Glasgow Health Board in the 1980s, latterly as its vice-chairman. At the time of his death, he was treasurer to the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow, a guide at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and a reader for the RNIB, in addition to supporting the Glasgow Conservation Trust and the Greek Thompson Sixty Steps Preservation Trust.

Turpie married Deirdre Brown in 1962, having met her at Glasgow University, and they had four children and a long and happy marriage. She died in 1999, following a long illness through which he nursed her despite himself undergoing major heart surgery. Having overcome his grief, his natural optimism and ability to look to the future allowed him to rebuild his life. He continued to enjoy his ever-increasing circle of friends, taking solace and comfort from their company, and his constantly expanding number of grandchildren.

He was a generous host and friend to many, loved telling stories and could see the funny side of anything, particularly himself. His trademark guffaw will be missed - although he must be the only person to attend a comedy show and have the lead actor offer him money to stop laughing.

Throughout his life Turpie was an avid learner; he only learned to drive at the age of 50 and was studying art history, west end of Glasgow architecture and philosophy when he died. He had a massive pride in the city's art galleries, music and cultural history and was, in all senses, a passionate and informed ambassador for the city.

He is survived by his four children, six grandchildren and a wide circle of friends.