By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
A determined housebuilder was dancing on solid foundations when he won the People’s Vote at the Strictly Queenscourt fundraising event in Southport.
Paul Jones, the Managing Director of Kingswood Homes, and pro dance partner Chloe Judd took the title for their brilliant Cha Cha routine in the ballroom at the Prince Of Wales Hotel.
It is the second Strictly event organised by Queenscourt Hospice, with every penny raised going to support the charity’s services for families across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire.
Paul has already raised over £10,500 through his performance, with people able to donate via the JustGiving website here.
He is the MD of Kingswood Homes, a quality housebuilder based in Little Hoole, near Preston, in Lancashire, which has created developments across the North West since 2009.
Kingswood Homes supports the community in a variety of ways. Two years ago, they generously donated an entire house in Blackburn to Derian House Children’s Hospice, which raised over £400,000 in the ‘Big House Giveaway’.
Strictly Queenscourt was their latest fundraising contribution.
Paul Jones said: “It was the worst thing I’ve ever done!
“It was so far out of my comfort zone, something I’ve never experienced before.
“Among my group of friends, I was someone who never ventured towards a dance floor on a night out, because I can’t dance!
“Strictly Queenscourt was such a brilliant event.
“It’s nothing like a normal charity do, it’s something really different. There were some brilliant dancers.
“I congratulate Rob Beresford and Megan Hosker, who won the Judges’ Vote. They were great to watch. All the dancers taking part have put in so much effort.
“I’d like to thank my dance partner, Chloe Judd, and Kaz Leach from Marshside School Of Dance, who was really good at teaching us.
“With most dancers, Kaz started simple and built up with more complex moves. With me it was the other way around; she started with a simple routine and when she saw I couldn’t dance, she simplified it!
“The night was such a rollercoaster of emotions.
“When you walk out to the top of the staircase at the Prince Of Wales Hotel and you look down towards 300 people watching you, you realise there’s nothing else you can do but go ahead and just do it!
“The fundraising team at Queenscourt Hospice have been brilliant, they’ve been massively supportive all the way through.
“It’s a superb local charity and they deserve all the support they can get.
“I have raised over £10,500 so far and am very grateful to everyone who has been so generous.
“I appreciate everyone who came to watch me on the night. Knowing I can’t dance I think they were all keen to come along!”
Plans are already under way for next year’s Strictly Dancing event, with the first contestant announced on the night of last weekend’s event after Paul finished his dance routine.
Paul said: “On the night I nominated Dave Read to compete in next year’s Strictly Queenscourt!
“We will keep that tradition, of a Kingswood Homes contestant each year nominating the following year’s contestant.
“Dave is someone who I work with at Kingswood Homes and one of my oldest friends. We have been friends since we were around 11 or 12 years old.
“He will be similar to me in that he will hate it and will enjoy it in equal measure!
“Dave has the same lack of dancing ability that I’ve got.”
This is the second year that Strictly Queenscourt has taken place to raise funds for Queenscourt Hospice.
11 competitors and their professional dance partners took to the stage in the ballroom at the Prince of Wales Hotel Southport.
The event was sponsored by Perfect Portal, Kingswood Homes, EFT Group Ltd and Home Bargains.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
