A WORLD Cup song recorded by the landlord and regulars at The Kings Arms in Okehampton has won the pub a national award.
And with live streaming back to the pub, all the regulars were able to join in the excitement of the moment.
The hostelry in Okehampton was up against 5,000 pubs across the country to win the category.
A video showing how the song, When the Lions Roar, came to be made, was shared far and wide, winning praise from the England football team themselves.
Rob said he was still on cloud nine at the accolade at the annual awards being made by the national chain which owns thousands of hostelries countrywide.
‘It was nice to get something off the back of it for all the locals in the song because it was all of those who got it out there and got it going,’ he said.
‘There were three finalists in our category and then they announced the winner, and it was us! They then showed our video about making the song on the big screen. I was so amazed and the good thing was that I had FaceTime on my phone so I had it coming back to the pub and Mark who was there connected up screens in the bar so everyone there could watch.
‘It was absolutely brilliant and I could see on my phone that they were all jumping up and clapping when it was announced.
‘The award was for best marketing initiative, for doing something unique, and it was unique.’
Rob has wanted to record his own World Cup anthem for the past 30 years and last summer he seized his chance.
He penned the lyrics for When the Lions Roar which ace record producer Richard Brown, a regular at the pub, set to music.
It featured another regular guitarist George Nixs, who has played for the likes of The Hollies, Suzi Quatro, Eric Clapton and Dire Straits.
The chorus, meanwhile, was provided by a choir of regulars. A number of other musicians and vocalists who play live music or drink at the pub also took part.
The song was released on YouTube and got picked up by the England World Cup squad themselves.
‘We were actually “number one” on their official playlist so for me it is just brilliant that we’ve been recognised for that,’ said Rob. ‘I’m still grinning like a Cheshire cat.’