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Add your name to my birthday book! 150 150 mhamer

Add your name to my birthday book!

Jimmy Cricket's birthday card to Denise Glyn-Hughes

Jimmy Cricket is inviting fans to add their names to his burgeoning birthday book.

The well-known Northern Irish entertainer has a book that he brings with him to all his live shows.

Anybody who wants to be sent one  of Jimmy’s special cards should pop along to see him at a venue near them and add their name to his ever-growing birthday card list!

A very happy Denise Glyn-Hughes is one of those people in the book and she can be seen above waving the autograph and birthday card that Jimmy sent her marking her 18th birthday. The photo appeared on Denise’s Facebook page.

Packed show is a family affair 150 150 mhamer

Packed show is a family affair

Jimmy Cricket and Fr Frankie appeared in the Clitheroe Advertiser

Jimmy Cricket and his second son, the newly ordained Fr Frankie Mulgrew, played to a fullhouse in aid of charity recently.

Like his famous dad, Frankie is also an entertainer and went under the stage name of Frankie Doodle during his show business days.

Jimmy Cricket's wife, May Mulgrew,

Jimmy’s wife, May

He was ordained a Catholic priest in an ordination service at Salford Cathedral last summer, but still does the occasional comedy gig in aid of charity.

Jimmy, his wife May Mulgrew – who is a professional singer under the stage name of May Marion – and Fr Frankie all appeared in the concert at the end of January which was a fund-raiser for the charity Mary’s Meals.

It is an organisation which supports school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

The event was hosted at the community hall connected with the parish church where Fr Frankie is based – St John’s Catholic Church in Clitheroe.

Jimmy, who was born James Mulgrew, said: “The show played to a fullhouse, with 70 people having to be put on a waiting list for returned tickets!

“A magnificent total of £2, 250 was raised from the night for Mary’s Meals.”

The image above shows a story published in the Clitheroe Advertiser newspaper published on 6 February about the show.

Sweep dreams from the early 1990s 150 150 mhamer

Sweep dreams from the early 1990s

Sweep Dreams, starring Jimmy Cricket

A picture montage (above) based on a silent comedy film in which Jimmy Cricket starred has been sent to the famous Northern Irish entertainer more than two decades after it was made.

The sender was the Reverend Lawrie Adams who worked with Jimmy on a film project in the early 1990s.

At the time, Rev Adams was based at a church in the pretty town of Whalley in East Lancashire and he was in charge of  BDTV – Blackburn Diocese Television.

Now a retired vicar living in Cheadle, Cheshire, Rev Adams recently went to see one of Jimmy’s shows at the Plaza Theatre in Stockport.

The project  they worked on was called Sweep Dreams, a short, silent, comedy piece featuring Jimmy as a street sweeper in and around the Lancashire coastal resort of Lytham St Annes.

Rev Adams directed the piece and his two daughters – Fiona and Tracey – were also part of the production team.

The week’s filming in 1992 was completed on location in and around the notable landmarks of the resort ie the beach, promenade and bandstand, and, as you would expect, the theme of the film was Jimmy getting into all sorts of scrapes and mischief!

Although the project was never broadcast on television – interesting because this film pre-dated Mr Bean which became a success in the same silent comedy genre a few years later – much fun was had by all who were involved.

Jimmy said he enjoyed his time on location, adding: “It was really nice that 20 years later I was able to hear again from the Rev Lawrie and to receive the montage which brought back many fond memories.”

Wall of fame features Jimmy & others 150 150 mhamer

Wall of fame features Jimmy & others

Wall of fame includes Ken Dodd and Jimmy CricketA wall of fame photograph put on Facebook includes legendary entertainers such as Ken Dodd, Victoria Wood, Jimmy Cricket and George Formby.

The star-studded montage (right) of famous faces and celebrity autographs has been assembled over the years by Amy Phillips.

Jimmy said : “Amy is clearly a keen collector of autographs and the ones she has accumulated are proudly presented in a mounted display on the wall of one of her rooms.”

Alongside Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy on the wall of fame is actor, Peter Sallis who played Norman Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine, English comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, screenwriter and director Victoria Wood, British comedian, actor and television presenter Joe Pasquale and George Formby, OBE, who was a British actor, singer-songwriter and comedian.

George Formby was a major star of stage and screen in the 1930s and ’40s and his songs such as When I’m Cleaning Windows were particularly popular during the Second World War (1939–45).

Jimmy added: “Amy posted this picture on her Facebook page and I  am thrilled to keep such celebrated company on her wall!”

Here’s to the next 30 years! 150 150 mhamer

Here’s to the next 30 years!
Jimmy Cricket with Darren and Neil from the Morton Arms, Towyn, North Wales

Jimmy with Darren and Neil at the Morton Arms, Towyn, North Wales

A North Wales pub where Jimmy Cricket has enjoyed performing over the years is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2014.

The above photograph, which was published on Facebook, was taken in 2001 and features Jimmy alongside Darren Howells and Neil from the Morton Arms, Towyn  in North Wales.

Famous funnyman Jimmy was appearing at this venue at the time the photo was taken and this year the venue celebrates 30 years since it was opened.

He last appeared at the Morton Arms a couple of years ago and that latest visit was again organised by local entertainment entrepreneur Darren Howells.

In fact, every time Jimmy has appeared at the Morton Arms he has had a tremendous reception from the locals based in the Abergele region.

Jimmy said: “I wish everyone at the pub a happy 30th anniversary and another 30 years of success. I also hope to bump into my old friend Darren Howells at some point in the near future.”

Golden award for ‘inspirational young man’ 150 150 mhamer

Golden award for ‘inspirational young man’
Jimmy Cricket with Golden Wellie award winner Sonny

Jimmy presents “courageous” Sonny with the Golden Wellie award for February

A young man whose “courage and tenacity” impressed entertainer Jimmy Cricket is the February winner of the Golden Wellie award.

Jimmy met Sonny who accompanied reporter Graham Ashworth when he was interviewing the Northern Irish comedian just before Christmas for the Local Journal in Rossendale.

Sonny was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2012 and had a bone marrow transplant 12 months ago which was kindly donated by his brother, Spencer. Sonny is currently in remission and undergoing radiation treatment.

Jimmy said: “I was only told of sonny’s circumstances at the end of Graham’s interview with me. On hearing the news, I could not believe what I was being told because of Sonny’s great attitude and friendly demeanour.

“I was particularly impressed with Sonny’s courage and tenacity. I also learnt that Sonny was planning to revisit the cancer ward at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital over the forthcoming Christmas period with gifts for the children there and to show them that as he is recovering so can they.”

After meeting this “inspirational young man”, Jimmy thought he would acknowledge the occasion in his own very personal way by presenting him with the Golden Wellie award.

The Nobodies, stolen wellies & keeping busy 150 150 mhamer

The Nobodies, stolen wellies & keeping busy

Jimmy Cricket article in the Local Journal in RossendaleJimmy Cricket has been telling a magazine about how he met his wife May and why he still hopes his concrete wellies will one day be returned to him.

The famous entertainer is featured in the February edition of the  Local Journal in Rossendale – his house falls just metres inside the Rossendale border.

He moved there a couple of years ago  from his previous home in Rochdale which was less than a mile from where he now lives.

The article (above), written by Graham Ashworth, is headlined ‘Jimmy cricket is still bowling them over!’ and describes him as one of the country’s best-known comedians.

It says he was the last person to be interviewed by Eamonn Andrews on the famous This
is your life programme and that it was at Pontins holiday camp in Morecambe where he met his wife May who was singing with a resident group called ‘The Nobodies’.

And Jimmy, who says he has no plans to hang up his wellies any time soon, has not given up hope that his concrete boots, which were stolen from his garden last summer, may yet turn up again eventually.