A lifelong socialist whose motto was "each shall strive for the welfare of all" has sadly died at the age of 85.

John Calvert Cornwell was born in Willerby on March 31, 1939, and died on July 11 this year. He was Deputy Leader of the former South Yorkshire County Council and behind many schemes that dramatically improved the quality of life of ordinary people.

He attended Hymer's College, a private day school in Hull, from the age of 11. His family owned the well-known pork butchers business Kress and Wagner which had shops in Hessle Road and Spring Bank. Described by his family and friends as eccentric and remarkably clever, he was colleagues with well-known politicians of the Blair years, including Richard Caborn and the Rt Hon David Blunkett who both left tributes to him.

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Tribute for John, written by his family

John lived a full life, full of principles, events and adventure – he was known to his family and friends as often eccentric with a depth of knowledge only a teacher of history and politics could match. John became a committed Socialist whilst at the London School of Economics (LSE) which ran contrary to his upbringing.

Whilst at South Yorkshire County Council (The Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire!), he decided to use the motto “Each shall strive for the welfare of all” A motto he lived by …striving for equality for all through the Bus Fare Policy and bringing arts, recreation and culture to South Yorkshire and his adopted home of Sheffield through a life of Civic Duty

John was very proud of his German heritage and was a frequent visitor to Kocherstetten where his family – the Wagners – originated. He later went on to write his only fictional book based on this village at the end of the Second World War which was translated into German.

He met his wife Judith at LSE and then settled in her home town of Sheffield which became his adopted home. There he taught at Ecclesfield Comprehensive School for a quarter of a century.

He also went on to teach in Jamaica and Canada. He was thrown out of Jamaica as a suspected communist during the Cuban Missile Crisis but was exonerated by Michael Manley, a later Prime Minister of Jamaica.

John was involved in local politics in Sheffield and served on the city council from 1966-7 and also 1971 - 1973 when he was elected to the South Yorkshire County Council, becoming Deputy Leader and serving until its abolition in 1986. A keen Rugby League / Hull FC fan, John helped to bring Rugby League to Sheffield (a hotbed and birthplace of association football) serving as press officer and vice president of Sheffield Eagles.

He was also involved with the grassroots game, as chair of the Sheffield and District Amateur Rugby League Association. He was also involved with local amateur side, Hillsborough Hawks.

In a very full life, John was also a member of the Football Trust, Vice Chair of the Yorkshire and Humberside Sports Council and the Yorkshire Tourist Board, he also served on The Arts Council of Great Britain. He Chaired the Sheffield Theatres Trust (including the famous Crucible) and was a coordinator for the World Student Games when they were held in Sheffield.

John also served as a Chair of Governors for King Edward VII school in Sheffield, writing several books about the school's history. With an interest in militaria, he also wrote a number of books about the First World War amongst other topics.

In addition, he served on The board of the Northern Counties Housing Association. John was a keen sportsman and played Rugby union for Sheffield Tigers. He also played cricket for Hathersage in the North East Derbyshire League (sometimes playing in the same side as his son)

He leaves behind a son and daughter, Daniel and Suzy. In memory of his father, Daniel Cornwell said: "For all Dad's achievements, I was proudest when watching him carrying out his surgeries in Hartley House Social Club in the 1970s.

"In terms of his background, he had little in common with the people he served, however, they knew he would do his very best to resolve their issues – he was a true socialist."

Suzy Cornwell said: "When I was 18 I left Sheffield to forge my own path and not be 'just' the daughter of John Cornwell. Forty years later, with the legacy of Rother Valley that my family enjoy all the time and the Lyceum theatre – how could I not be a proud daughter of a life well lived in civic duty – a duty he has passed on to me as a proud socialist and North East Derbyshire District Councillor myself."

Former cabinet minister the Rt Hon David Blunkett also paid tribute to John, writing: "I have appreciated all he has done over so many years – The City Council, the County Council, all the writing, the material for celebrations and events.

"I go back so far to those early days of the early 1970s on Sheffield City Council, fighting massive, overblown road proposals; the demolition of decent houses to build concrete blocks and then the battle for the transport policy; for John’s work on leisure and the creation of Rother Valley and much more."

Richard Caborn, another Labour MP who served as Minister of Sport from 2001 to 2007, said: "My friend and comrade John Cornwell never ceased to amaze and was defiantly a one-off, his mild eccentricity manifested itself in many ways but was possibly best demonstrated when John on a Sunday morning was seen in dressing gown cutting the lawn not with a lawn mower but with a Samurai sword.

"My many hours of interesting and challenging discussion with John really helped me understand why he was an excellent writer but why he went into politics, why he had very strong beliefs about injustice and fairness, why he wanted to change an unfair order and get a better deal for ordinary people, which he did in many ways.

"John’s values of fairness and opportunity for all were really demonstrated in the work he did when he was the Deputy Leader of SY CC not only did he drive the hard economic and social agenda but on two great loves of his life sport and the arts he had the opportunity to serve on the Sports Council and Arts Council which he did with great distinction.

"John was a very interesting and good man, a man of strong views and sound values. We will miss his interesting and sometimes hilarious poems at the Joan Barton annual dinner. But above all, we will miss his comradeship. RIP."

John's funeral service will be held at Grenoside Crematorium (North Chapel) in Sheffield on Monday August 19 from 11am until 1pm. There will also be a live stream for those who are unable to attend in person; visit the Peace Funerals website for information on how to join.