As new Conservative MP elected in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher swept to power, it's not surprising that Cotswold farmer Paul Marland had a reputation for being extremely loyal to the party line.
But his deference to the Iron Lady's Government was tested to the limit when it was accused of trying to sell off the Forest of Dean to the highest bidder.
At first the MP for Gloucestershire West tried to defend the Government's argument that it could no longer use taxpayer's money to subsidise the Forestry Commission when it was sitting on so many assets.
But many believe that after facing a meeting of furious Foresters in a public hall in Christchurch, the MP did a U-turn and backed those fighting for the Forest of Dean to be made an exemption in the Forestry Bill of 1981.
How hard he fought depends on who you speak to but Hansard shows he told the Commons: "I regard the possible sale of the Royal Forest of Dean and other Crown forests to faceless investors as a national disaster.
"The Royal Forest of Dean is steeped in ancient history and tradition. Today's Forester is of the same independent mind and rugged character as were his forefathers. It is our duty to preserve his ancient rights and traditions."
Get the biggest stories from across Gloucestershire straight to your inbox, click here
The former MP died this month aged 81 but older Foresters still talk about how he changed his mind to to support the battle led by local historian Cyril Hart and Lord McNair.
The campaigners won the day and the Dean woodlands became the only ones in the country to be exempted from the Act which permitted the Forestry Commission to sell off land.
The tale was oft repeated by locals when Conservative MP Mark Harper backed the Government in a doomed attempt to change the law in 2010 and denied that it would lead to a sell off.
Mr Harper was forced to flee a similar stormy meeting in Coleford but continued to reject claims by the Hands Off Our Forest Campaign that the woodlands were in danger of being sold off.
This week Mr Harper paid tribute to Mr Marland.
"Saddened to hear of the recent death of my predecessor-but-one," he said posting an obituary in The Times on line.
"Paul Marland served as MP for West Gloucestershire 1979-1997.
"He had a well deserved reputation as a very good constituency MP.
"I send my sincere condolences to his family and friends. His obituary is a fine read."
Local verderer, historian and campaigner Ian Standing was heavily involved in the 1981, 1983 and 2010 battles to keep the Forest of Dean's exemption and was at the original meeting that reportedly led to a change of heart.
"He was a very charming character and fiercely loyal to the party," he said.
"He had quite a rollicking at that first meeting in Christchurch and then tabled an amendment.
"But I think he played a more important role in the 1983/84 campaign after we sat him down in Lydney Institute and explained things."
But while Paul Marland's name is still linked to what was considered a major victory to save the woodlands for future generations in the Forest of Dean, the battle is not remembered so fondly by others who wanted all Crown lands to be exempted.
In the Commons John Robertson, MP for Berwick and East Lothian, said: "That was about the most contemptibly selfish speech that I have ever heard delivered in the House.
"The hon. Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr Marland) has made it clear that he is happy to see any part of Forestry Commission ground sold off anywhere else in the country as long as it is not in his constituency. "
The Times obituary described him as a "diligent, loyal and unambitious Conservative MP" who kept in with the whips so he could attend annual shoot with his close friends on the island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides every January.
According to The Times he was reminded of this favour when his name appeared on a list of potential MPs set to rebel against Margaret Thatcher's successor John Major.
Born in March 1940, he was educated at Gordonstoun and Trinity College Dublin before marrying Penelope Anne Barlow and taking over the family farm in the Cotswolds two years later in 1967.
They had three children, Lara, Lucinda and Alexander but split up in 1982.
He then married Caroline Ann Rushton, who went on to become managing director of The Guardian in 1995.
At his fourth attempt to become an MP the country landowner won the marginal seat of West Gloucestershire, now the Forest of Dean seat, in 1979.
He became parliamentary private secretary to the Treasury and the Ministry of Agriculture and later became chairman of the all-party Commons agriculture select committee.
Known for keeping his nose clean, he caused a stir in 1994 when he publicly attacked Lloyds of London and the insurance market in the Commons after reportedly suffering heavy losses.
When the West Gloucestershire seat was replaced by the Forest of Dean after boundary changes in 1997 he was beaten by Labour MP Diana Organ.
The seat returned to the Tories with current Conservative MP Mark Harper and Mr Marland continued to be active in the party organisation, standing in the European Parliament elections in the south west and becoming vice chairman of the newly established Gloucestershire and Bristol area council of the Conservative Party.
As President of the National Conservative Convention in 2005, he arranged the party conference in Blackpool and he continued campaigning on countryside issues such as hunting.
Paul Marland March 9 1940 – April 7 2021
The exemption in the Forestry Act 1981
Disposal of land.
In section 39 of the M1 Forestry Act 1967, for subsection (2) (which enables the Minister to sell land in specified circumstances) there shall be substituted—
“(2)Subject to subsection (2A) below, the Minister may dispose for any purpose of land acquired by him under this section.
(2A)Subsection (2) above shall not apply in relation to land acquired under this section which is in the Forest of Dean; but the Minister may sell such land if in his opinion it is not needed, or ought not to be used, for the purpose of afforestation or any purpose connected with forestry, and may exchange any such land for other land more suitable for either of the said purposes and may pay or receive money for equality of exchange.”
