How would you describe yourself?
Content, friendly, musical, not good with large angry dogs.

Happiest childhood memory?
Outings with my parents, family gatherings at 'set times' (Molins Christmas parties? in the Guildhall?)

What was your first job?
Picking corn in France for the summer as a teenager, which meant sleeping in a field;

Favourite book?
Anything by John McGahern and Ian McEwan.

Favourite film?
Probably 'It's A Wonderful Life' or 'Matter of Life and Death', although I recently had to suffer 'Tenacious D And The Pick of Destiny' (teenage son had the remote control and I was too tired to argue)

Favourite television programme?
Don't get to see much TV but I'm watching 'The Apprentice' at the moment - and again, thanks to having no power whatsoever in my own living room, I find that 'Dr Who' seems to be on a lot. (wife steals the remote on me too)

Favourite expression?
'Sure we just won't worry about it' or 'Please can we change the channel?'

Favourite method of relaxation?
Preferred method is playing guitar - unfortunately spare time seems to get taken up with feeding the cats or helping teenagers with homework!

Favourite holiday destination?
Love Achill Island and Donegal - also very fond of Crete (my grandfather was taken prisoner of war there during the Second World War, so we made a 'pilgrimage' a few years ago to show the children) Greece is a bit like Ireland, friendly, relaxed but with the heat seriously turned up.

Who would you most like to meet?
Of the deceased, John Lennon; of the living, Nelson Mandela. (wife says ask for David Tennant - have to explain that this is hypothetical and she should take a tablet and go lie down)

What makes you angry?
Hearing about acts of cruelty to vulnerable people (children, the elderly or disabled persons) and to animals. Wanton destruction and stepping in dog dirt also does not do a lot to improve my mood.

What makes you happy?
Having a day off, hearing good news- Man Utd winning (sorry, but I supported them as a child when they were in the old second division! Don't judge me.)

What human quality do you most admire?
Honesty, compassion, forgiveness and the ability to overcome diffciulties.

What human quality do you least admire?
Deceit, cruelty.

What has been the most embarrassing thing to happen to you?
Bought a big pack of pink nappies when my son was born, but I was sleep deprived - and my wife has a habit of disappearing on me in shops, usually leaving me holding a basket of knickers or bras, and sometimes also clutching a brightly coloured mop; not good. (sincere apologies to alarmed Waterside shoppers yesterday morning.)

What was the worst thing to happen to you in your life?
The pipe bomb attack on our home probably ranks fairly highly, and then my wife's parents fell ill and died within a short time of each other recently. We were both close to them and it was difficult to watch my wife grieving for them.

What is your greatest fear?
That something will happen to my family.

What has been the high point of your life to date?
Getting married and the births of my children - and of course being given the chance to serve this city as Mayor.

How would you like to be remembered?
By friends and family, as civil, and maybe by our cats, as chief food provider (no-one else in our house will go out in the rain to bring them in or feed them.)

What is your most treasured possession?
A Hofner Violin Bass guitar, and I need my toothbrush, too.

If you won the lotto what would you do with it?
Pay off debts, change the car, help out family, give some to charity, hire someone to feed the cats and do the dishes.

If you could be granted one wish in life, what would you ask for?
I would like to meet my ancestors- my grandparents were either deceased or very elderly when I was young. I wish I could have known them better and talked to them about their experiences.

If you could write your own epitaph what would it be?
'I was shopping with my wife that day, honestly!'