HAVING represented Croydon North as MP for 20 years and served in two Prime Ministers' cabinets, Malcolm Wicks enjoyed a rich and rewarding political career.
But as his autobiography, published this week, reveals, perhaps his most important contribution was made while working as a junior civil servant in 1976.
Then, Mr Wicks disclosed plans by the Callaghan Labour government to drop a pledge to introduce child benefit, leading to a U-turn.
It is a fascinating new insight into the character of a man who went on to be regarded as a politician of deep integrity.
Mr Wicks, who died of cancer in September 2012 aged 65, wrote his autobiography in the last year of his life.
His son, Roger Wicks, who edited the book, said it had enabled his family to reflect on his father's achievements.
He said: "He decided to write an autobiography after being told he had a year to live. He didn't know how many people would be interested or what reaction it would get, but he thought it would be nice for family and friends as a memento.
"There was shock and grief when he died because it wasn't his time, but the book has helped a lot.
"It's not just that people have the chance to learn about his life, but I've found reading his stories wonderful. I've read it four or five times and it keeps making me laugh and smile."
The book – called My Life – covers Malcolm's childhood, including his time at a boarding school in Guernsey before studying for a degree in social science at the London School of Economics.
He went on to work at the University of York, the Centre for Environmental Science and then to lecture in social administration at Brunel. It was while working as an analyst at the Home Office in 1976 that he leaked Labour's plans to can the introduction of child benefit to the now Labour MP Frank Field.
The memoirs also details how he met his wife Maggie, and how he discovered the other love of his life, politics, including tentative attempts to become an MP in Derby before beating the odds in 1987 to win Labour's selection in what was then Croydon North West.
The book focuses on his career following election in 1992 including serving in the cabinets of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, where he served variously as minister of state for pensions, energy and science and innovation.
The memoirs also outline the genesis of the Carers (Recognition and Services Act), his 1995 private member's bill.
It was his indelible mark on the statute book but, typically for a man who kept his cabinet leak between a very small group of friends, he describes the legislation as only a "modest first step" in recognising the importance of carers.
"He was very driven and convinced it was the responsibility of an MP to bring about change," said Roger.
"Because he loved his job he carried on right to the end. He had friends advising him to stand down and relax, but he was determined to carry on.
"Being an MP was his dream job. He loved every aspect of it, from Parliament and his ministerial career, to representing people in Croydon. If anything he worked harder than ever after his diagnosis, because he started writing the book.
"At one point we had a chat because he realised his time was running out. He had this great line about being 'up against a bit of a deadline'. So he was reflective while writing, but very positive as well."
Mr Wicks eventually became too ill to write in the same depth about his later life as he did of growing up and his route into politics. Certain topics are left relatively uncovered, such as his election victory in 1992, and the second half of the book is completed with a selection of his essays.
Alison Butler, a Labour councillor and Mr Wicks' office manager for 20 years, said: "This is Malcolm's story and his voice really comes across when you read it. His passing away after such a quick illness was incredibly painful, but now is the time to look back and see what he achieved."
