First winner of Pub Idol announced

Demelza is delighted to announce the first Pub Idol 2009 winner!

The final was held on December 1 at the Komedia in Brighton, following heats in pubs and clubs across Sussex and Kent.

Demelza volunteers Mick Gosden and Steve Crow were the comperes for the evening and they warmed the crowd up with a musical medley.

Demelza community nurse Heidi Everest also sang Circle of Life.

The judging panel consisted of Ben Mills of X Factor fame, Demelza's Director of fundraising, James Hanaway and Rupert Culme-Seymour from Scottish and Newcastle.

Eight finalists performed one song before the judges called their three favourites (Robin Thomas, Chris Brown and Kerry Deaville-Bray) to sing again.

Ben Mills also did an impromptu performance of Try a Little Tenderness.

The eventual winner was bar maid Kerry Deaville-Bray from Eastbourne who sang The Greatest Love of All.

Ben said after her first turn: 'Your voice was really good. Your vibrato was really strong.'






She said of her win: 'It felt fantastic. I'm really, really chuffed, I am really excited. I still can't believe it.'

The first Pub Idol competition, which was supported by Scottish and Newcastle, raised around £1,500 for Demelza.

Area Fundraising Manager Vicki Pickering said: 'The finalists were all fantastic, it was a difficult decision for the judges.

'We are grateful for everyone's support for the event, the Komedia, Scottish and Newcastle and all the pubs and clubs for taking part. We are looking forward to repeating the event again next year'.


THE FINALISTS WERE:

1. Kerry Deaville-Bray representing The Nuthouse, Eastbourne
2. Trevor Munnery representing Refresh Bar, Folkestone
3. Jason Jenkins representing Six in One Club, Tonbridge
4. Chris Brown representing The Trek Club, Seaford
5. John Magee representing Snodland WMC
6. Rob Hawes representing The Brass Monkey, Hastings
7. Robin Thomas representing Hailsham MI Club
8. Sean Young representing Goffs Park Social Club, Crawley

THE TOP THREE WERE:

1. Robin Thomas representing Hailsham MI Club
2. Chris Brown representing The Trek Club, Seaford
3, Kerry Deaville-Bray representing The Nuthouse, Eastbourne