Digby Jones is one of those rare people who contradicts the public's stereotype of lawyers.

The solicitor director-general of the Confederation of British Industry is bold, brash and not afraid to get off the fence and offer up a colourful opinion or six.

For example, a group of European lawyers attending the Birmingham Law Society's first international symposium recently were treated to a barrage of advice on how to maintain business competitiveness.

He warned complacent Europeans that 'India will have our lunch and China will have our dinner, unless the EU wakes up to making Europe a global competitor'.

But what of the man himself? We know he was a former senior partner at what was Edge Ellison, and that he has now had his stint at the CBI extended by two years.

But there's more.

Chris Rawstron, DLA's senior partner in Birmingham, revealed that Mr Jones was a helicopter pilot in the Royal Navy before jacking that in for a more exciting career as a solicitor.

And Brum local law society president Diane Benussi tells the story of how she invokes the name 'Digby' as a curse after having been cajoled by him to take part in a charity cycle ride.

Ms Benussi still cycles to this day; Mr Jones does not.