Serge Ferragut

A journalist and photographer who worked for regional newspapers as well as international new agencies has called it quits to focus on his weekly open mic night.

Media veteran Serge Ferragut has contributed to local papers such as the Surrey Advertiser, snapping the Tour of Britain cycle race and the Olympics. He was also an Agence France Presse regular and has contributed to nationals including the Daily Telegraph and the Observer, covering overseas news including the war in Iraq.

But the 66-year-old has swapped his camera kit for a microphone stand and announced his retirement from the industry, as he wants to concentrate on the an open mic night he started a year ago in his hometown of Dorking, Surrey.

“I’m very much looking forward to it – it will be a challenge and something different, but I think it will be good,” said Serge.

“In this part of the country we have a lot of very talented young musicians and I think I could help them along. I am a musician myself and I can spot who is good and who I think might make it.”

He said he has already signed up around 300 artists for the event on a Monday night.