Cllr Campbell came to Marlow carrying an army camp bed, an old duffel coat, and a bottle of Johnny Walker whisky.

Cllr Campbell, 65, headteacher of St Mary's RC School, in Maidenhead, compared himself with the medieval mayor of London when he was nominated to replace outgoing mayor Doug Anson on Tuesday.

Cllr Campbell, a father-of-four, and grandfather, who spent 36 years in the army and Territorial Army, said: "I do feel a bit of a Dick Whittington. I came to live in Marlow on April 14, 1964, when I moved into Castleton Court with all my possessions - an army camp bed, the clothes I stood up in, an old duffel coat and a bottle of Johnny Walker whisky - for emergencies. "It was freezing cold. I was so cold I filled the bath and sat in it to keep warm."

Cllr Campbell joined the army to do National Service in 1952 and stayed on as a reservist.

He has been headmaster at St Mary's for 29 years and is married to fellow councillor Priscilla Stallard. He was elected to serve for Marlow's North Ward for the town and district councils in May 1991.

He said his experience showed people can work their way up in Marlow - with a little luck.

At the ceremony, Cllr Campbell took time out to praise Cllr Anson's year as mayor.

He said: "He is an honest, sober, and industrious man. In the course of this year, he showed the mayor's flag at its very best all around the town. He has raised the mayor's profile tremendously in his year."

Cllr Campbell was nominated by Cllr Derek Done who said: "I am sure Jim will be an excellent mayor and a fine ambassador for Marlow."

He joked: "So if you elect Jim, this will be just one more step in the Caledonianisation of Britain. First Tony Blair, who is a kind of Scot, then Gordon Brown, Robin Cook, George Robertson, and now, Jim Campbell for Marlow."

Cllr Ivor Coleman was elected deputy mayor.

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