ONE of them is the most powerful, outspoken and controversial politician in the room.

The others are Boris Johnson and David Cameron.

This was the scene in April 2005 when Oxfordshire County Council's most provocative leader Keith Mitchell (who died yesterday) launched the Conservative Party's manifesto for that year's county council elections, joined by two local Tory parliamentary candidates.

Read more: Tributes pour in to one-of-a-kind council leader

Boris Johnson was candidate for Henley at the time, and David Cameron was hoping he could take Witney.

The worried expression on both the young men's faces (well, comparitively young), compared to the ever-present confidence of the elder statesman, says a lot about the atmosphere in the room.

His years of political experience dwarfed the immature hopes of both the young Tories, and there is no doubt that he would have had many words of wisdom for them as they embarked on their political careers.

Read also: Four parents hauled into court for not making kids go to school

This perfect photograph was captured by longserving Oxford Mail photographer Jon Lewis, and was booked in by our dogged political reporter at the time Giles Sheldrick.

Mr Mitchell once bought a real-life 'humble pie' for Giles and personally delivered it to him at our office after one of Giles' predictions about the council leader was not quite right.

The event itself took place in the Red Room of the Quod bar in Oxford.