If you had to draw a typical mayor, chances are the picture would end up looking much like David Watkins.

Clap the civic robes on his large frame, adorn him with a chain and the jovial, bearded mayor-elect would look much like many of the other civic worthies whose portraits adorn the walls at Brighton Town Hall.

But it was a surprise when he was selected to become the first Liberal Democrat mayor of Brighton and Hove and there will be more surprises in store.

For, as the life of David Watkins shows so far, expect the unexpected.

He was born 68 years ago at Egham in Surrey. There was not a lot of money about as with so many families in those days.

Councillor Watkins left school when he was only 14 years old with little formal education.

For a while, he became an apprentice electrician.

But then he broke away from home and went to Southern Rhodesia where he joined the British South African police force.

He was invalided out after an accident with a horse.

In another sudden career change, he went into the menswear trade and rose quickly after learning the business.

Eventually, he became sales director of a large menswear group and enjoyed a successful business career, travelling the world.

By this time he had moved to Hertfordshire and, appropriately for his job, settled into the small town of Ware. He soon became a leading figure in local organisations such as the chamber of trade.

He then stood for Hertfordshire County Council as a Liberal Democrat and was elected for a four-year term.

At that time, the council had no overall control and councillors from the two major parties were reluctant to chair meetings.

It fell to David Watkins with his business experience to chair practically every committee on the council and to enjoy himself thoroughly in the process. His unofficial slogan was "Have gavel, will travel".

But the achievement of which he was most proud was his role in Herts Aid, an organisation that helped those affected by Aids and HIV. Eventually, it had a budget of £200,000.

In 1997 he decided to retire to Brighton and Hove, an area he had always liked and, as he put it, hit the ground running.

Determined not to be idle, he joined several local organisations, including the Citizens' Advice Bureau, where he became vice-chairman.

Still a Liberal Democrat, he joined the local party, which, at the time, had no representation at all on Brighton and Hove City Council.

Even though Lib Dems had held Brunswick and Adelaide on the old Hove Borough Council for several years, it was still a surprise when the party ousted Labour from the three seats in the 1999 council elections.

The new Lib Dems on the 78-member council were Dawn Davidson, Paul Elgood and David Watkins.

Once again, David Watkins quickly made his mark and paid particular attention to the scrutiny system under which councillors police the way the council is run and examine things that have gone wrong.

He was given the tricky task of chairing a scrutiny panel into what went wrong with the Palmeira Project, a scheme in his ward for looking after children with severe learning difficulties.

When the city council and NCH Action for Children, the project managers, fell out over rising costs and decided to close it, parents successfully challenged the decision in the High Court.

Coun Watkins is also chairing a second scrutiny panel into the controversy over grants offered by the city council.

Although the total amount allocated remained the same, many groups complained about the new way of assessing grants, which either meant they got less cash or none at all.

It is unusual for a councillor to be offered the mayoralty after less than three years in office.

But the ruling Labour group felt it was time for the opposition to have a go and that one of the smaller groups should be offered the position.

It seemed ideal for a Liberal Democrat to be mayor for one good reason - the party will be holding its annual conference at the Brighton Centre in September and he will be able to welcome it.

Coun Watkins will also be mayor during the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

He said: "I hope to be invited to meet as many groups as possible and to join them in their celebrations."

His wife, Sheila, will be mayoress. The couple have two children and two grandchildren.

Coun Watkins has yet to decide which charities he will choose during the year but indicated they will be few so that each can benefit more.

He said the theme of his year of office will be The Inclusive City.

There was opposition to his mayoralty from the Greens who felt it was being offered for political reasons and from Tories who felt they should have had the office.

But none of it was personally directed against him and he is not bothered about all the fuss.

He said: "Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this would happen and I would become mayor. I am very proud but also very humble."