Tributes have been paid to a leading political figure from a Swadlincote village credited with being "the best prime minister we never had".

More than 200 mourners packed the Lichfield & District Crematorium to hear final accolades to Coton-in-the-Elms parish council vice chairman Alan Lees who died at the beginning of the month.

He was 63. His "stoic and brave" battle with cancer never stopped Councillor Lees continuing his civic duties representing the South Derbyshire village on the Linton Area Forum, the liaison meeting with

South Derbyshire District Council, the Drakelow Liaison Group – and taking the lead for the parish council on the Digital Derbyshire Campaign.

Parish council clerk Peter Davies said: "Councillors are especially appreciative of Alan's determination to continue to attend parish council meetings during his illness.

"Alan took an active part in all aspects of the work of the parish council and made a significant contribution to furthering the wellbeing of the parishioners of Coton in the Elms. "He will be sadly missed."

The main eulogy to Councillor Lees was made by Staffordshire deputy police and crime commissioner Sue Arnold, a family friend for 30 years.

She told the Fradley service celebrating his life on Friday: "He had an avid thirst for knowledge from politics to Porsches. And he was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

"Alan loved his politics and for those of you that know the only way to change the world is to be on the inside shaping policy, he was motivated by a strong sense of social and community justice both locally and nationally.

"He made a telling contribution of which the residents of the village were proud."

Councillor Lees was elected onto the parish body in 2008 and quickly rose up the ranks to become its civic deputy, the council "recognising a man who could get things done", said Mrs Arnold. "Above all he was a community-spirited man, the best prime minister we never had.

"The deputy PCC first met Cllr Lees as the star pupil of her aerobics classes in the 1980s and he "remained a shining light in our lives ever since". 

It was there he met his future wife – Sandra – and became a father to Darren and Steve, grandfather to Izaak and Eddie.

"He was a most loving and caring husband," noted Mrs Arnold.Away from home and politics, Mr Lees had a with a lifelong passion for cars, bikes and racing.

With Sandra he went on a 14-day tour of Lake Garda in Italy on a Harley Davidson and last August realised his dream of owning a Jaguar.

At work he went from apprentice mechanic to owning his own business, Powersure Engineering, to working for the AA and RAC on technical support.

He finished a distinguished career teaching apprentice courses to hundreds of students – young and old – at Coalville's Stephenson College with the knowledge gained from his time at Audi, Renault and Volvo.  

One of his nicknames was 'speedy' which proved "so relevant in many ways," added Mrs Arnold.

She went on: "Alan's body worked on double time. "He was speedy at everything he did. He could pack two years of life into everyone else's one. 

"All his employers loved him because his productivity was so high. They had two employees for the price of one."Racing is a matter of spirit not strength. Four wheels moves the body, two wheels move the soul.

"But his passing at the age of 63 was a case of riding too speedily into his final destination, his last months spent fighting a terminal cancer diagnosis with "stoicism and bravery of a phenomenal kind." she concluded.