James Doyle, Liberal Democrat councillor for Selden, has been installed as Worthing's youngest mayor - at the age of 38.

He was sworn in at the annual mayor-making ceremony in Worthing Town Hall on Thursday, watched by his police sergeant wife Mel and close members of his family, including father Bob, his father's partner Mary and brothers Rob and Jon.

Jon was the father of the youngest guest at the event, Emma Doyle, eight, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, who was accompanied by Rob's nine-year-old daughter Siwan.

Coun Doyle, the borough's 87th mayor, chose to break with tradition and did not appoint a chaplain for his year in office, which caused a few murmurs among traditionalists in the council chamber.

Mel, or Melanie, who celebrates her 40th birthday while in the civic harness, is an accomplished musician with Lancing and Sompting Royal British Legion Band and conductor of Worthing Silver Band.

She wore a white trouser suit with black pin-stripes and was one of the few women at the ceremony to don a hat, which used to be the rule rather than the exception.

Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing, put in an appearance but there was no sign of Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West.

The mayor-making took place on a dull, drizzly day and Sentinel sincerely hopes they will be the only storm clouds over Coun Doyle's head in the forthcoming year.

He will actually be in office for 13 months, because the next local elections, when the entire council is up for re-election, will take place in June next year, rather than May as is usually the case.

The mayoralty is normally non-political but with the council hung (18 Tories and 18 Lib Dems), Coun Doyle will have the casting vote, which is not an enviable position to be in.

The new mayor was born in Saltash, Cornwall. His father served in the Royal Navy and the family moved frequently, living in Scotland, Hampshire and Singapore by the time Coun Doyle was six.

Between the ages of ten and 18, he attended boarding school on the Isle of Man and developed a love of rugby, which in later years he played to a high standard.

Coun Doyle, who met his wife at Southampton College of Higher Education, also turned out for a Worthing-based American football team called the South Coast Sharks.

He is a Shakespearian actor and has taken part in more than 20 productions, with leading roles in Othello and Coriolanus, and has also had poetry published.

Some readers may remember ITV's hit show The Krypton Factor, which Mr Doyle appeared on in 1990. He came second in the final of the programme.

Councillor Sheila Player, Lib Dem leader of the council, revealed that Coun Doyle, a web site designer by profession, was a very good cook and also a superb ironer.

In a rather risque speech, which prompted guffaws of laughter - even if certain parts of it went over the heads of some guests - Councillor Nick John said there was a picture of Coun Player on the Doyles' mantlepiece.

Nobody was sure whether he was joking or not but Councillor David Marchant, a Tory, responded: "I am very grateful we don't have to have a picture of our leader (Steven Waight) over my mantlepiece."

There were also references to truncheons and handcuffs, which Sentinel has no wish to elaborate on.

The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, which has the freedom of the borough, sent its warmest congratulations and best wishes to Coun Doyle, who professed his desire to strengthen links with the regiment even further.

Coun Doyle paid tribute to veteran council officer Tony Clarke, who is shortly to retire after notching up 20 mayor-making ceremonies, stating: "He will be much missed."

The mayor, who has lived in the town for 16 years, touched a chord with many when he said that Worthing was a truly wonderful place to live, work and play.

He was keen to promote relations between Worthing's twin areas in France and Germany and pledged that money raised during 2003 to 4 will go to three charities - St Barnabas Hospice, Stray Cats Youth Project and Maybridge Youth and Community Centre Project.

Councillor Brian McLuskie, the longest-serving councillor, led the tributes to outgoing mayor Eric Mardell, who only became the town's first citizen at the 11th hour, after Tory John Livermore declined the honour.

Coun Livermore's decision was a blessing in disguise as it paved the way for one of the finest mayors this town has had.

Coun McLuskie said: "It is not often a mayor takes people for a ride but during the past year Eric has been doing it virtually every day during his year in office."

He quickly explained that Coun Mardell was a volunteer dial-a-ride minibus driver, who transports pensioners all over the town.

Coun McLuskie said: "Eric became mayor at very short notice and it must have felt like being thrown into the deep end of the swimming pool."

He referred to Coun Mardell's taste for a pipe and the fact that he had almost set fire to his suit on two occasions when he placed a still-lit pipe in his pocket, probably accounting for the fact that the Mardells live just 50 yards from the fire station.

Coun Mardell was mayor during the Queen's Golden Jubilee and attended many functions, shaking hands with no less than 500 guests during a tea party in Steyne Gardens and walking along the promenade in full regalia at the memorable children's parade, which attracted 1,500 youngsters.

There had also been a visit to the town hall by a party of Afghan civil servants and he had improved links with the town's Muslim community, which included a visit to the mosque in Ivy Arch Road.

Listening intently was Jack Saheid, Worthing's first Muslim councillor, who has been elected to serve Selden ward in East Worthing.

Coun McLuskie said the mayor represented stability, continuity and reassurance in an insecure world where people were fearful of the future.

Coun Marchant spoke for many when he said Coun Mardell had demonstrated dignity and was second to none when it came to fulfilling the role of mayor.

Then it was Coun Mardell's turn to reflect on the past year, when he attended no less than 566 events and raised more than £21,000 for his three chosen charities - Leucan (for children suffering from leukaemia), Shopmobility and Crossroads.

Coun Mardell said he was a mayoraholic and wondered whether he would suffer from withdrawl symptoms or could resist smiling automatically for every camera that was pointed at him.

He would no longer have to put on his "someone has to do it" face when surrounded by a bevvy of beautiful girls in fishnet stockings, comment which prompted much amusement.

He said it had been an enthralling, exciting and unrepeatable year and the people of Worthing were a population to be proud of.

Coun Mardell paid a moving tribute to his wife Elizabeth. His voice choking with emotion, he said: "I have been proud to have her by my side."

He concluded: "The sands of time have run out on my mayoralty but is with confidence that I hand the mantle on to James Doyle and his wife Mel."

In the town hall foyer, Coun Mardell's name has already been carved into the Ancaster stone near the committee rooms, alongside every other mayor who has served the borough since 1890.

Sadly, the floral display which once graced the town hall on mayormaking day is no more. Once, the whole area was a mass of flowers and people queued up outside to view the magnificent blooms but today only few garlands remain, a victim of costcutting.

Former mayor Michael Parkin, one of a number of aldermen to attend, recalled that on his big day in 1986 the foyer resembled a tropical rainforest, complete with waterfall, which had the rather unfortunate effect of making people rush for the loos.

The town's honorary aldermen are Hugh Braden, Michael Clinch, John Cotton, Albert Dockerty, Herbie Golds, Peter Green, David Hill, Eric McDonald, Stanley Moore, Michael Parkin, Harold Piggott, Harold Steele and Mary Wilton.

One wonders what the new women councillors made of the ceremony, which still survives, including the donning of ermine-trimmed robes, tricorn hats, white gloves and ruffs, which date back to the 16th Century?

Before councillors and guests retired for a splendid buffet lunch, the event was stifled momentarily by some mind-numbingly boring amendments on who should chair committees.

Everybody hoped this was not a taste of things to come and secretly wished that the Lib Dems and Tories will work together in the forthcoming year for the benefit of the town.

But the political point-scoring has already begun and Coun Doyle must brace himself for a very rocky ride.