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Why Jimmy is so fond of Midlands town 150 150 mhamer

Why Jimmy is so fond of Midlands town
Sutton Coldfield Observer preview of Jimmy's latest performance in the town

Sutton Coldfield Observer preview of Jimmy's latest performance in the town

Jimmy Cricket is to appear in a charity show in a town which has a special place in his heart.

The famous Irish comedian is performing at the Falcon Lodge Youth and Community Centre in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, on Friday 30 March.

It means Jimmy will also be able to see his youngest son, Frankie, who is training to be a Roman Catholic priest at nearby Oscott College.

He told the Sutton Coldfield Observer: “I love that neck of the woods. I was there in November for a Help the Heroes night and I’m really looking forward to returning, both to perform and to see my son.”

The profits from the show will go to the Carpenter’s Arms Community Centre which is operated by the Sutton Central Churches Trust.

For tickets to the show, ring the Falcon Lodge centre on 0121 378 1555.

Sinatra tribute singer thrills audience 150 150 mhamer

Sinatra tribute singer thrills audience
Frank Sinatra tribute act Frank Forde compered the Manchester City FC Social Club in the 70s

Frank Sinatra tribute act Frank Forde compered the Manchester City FC Social Club

A Frank Sinatra tribute artiste and performer delighted the audience with his singing at Jimmy Cricket’s latest Golden Wellington Club night.

Manchester-born Frank Forde received a rapturous reception for his performance on another night of top music and comedy at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Norden, Rochdale.

Jimmy said: “Frank compered the Manchester City FC Social Club for many years in the 70s. It opened from Wednesday to Sunday and had three acts a night.

“His vocal impressions brought him a big following among the patrons and he was on first-name terms with most of the players at the time.

“One of his best friends is Mike Yarwood who had his own television series and specialised in impressions of Harold Wilson, the-then Prime Minister.”

Frank’s website says he “had the pleasure of introducing and performing with some of the top stars”.

These included Bill Haley & His Comets, The Drifters, Matt Monro, Frankie Vaughan, Mike Yarwood, Bob Monkhouse, Ken Dodd, The Supremes, Tony Christie, The Three Degrees, Lulu and most of the TV comics like Freddie Star, Bernard Manning, Frank Carson and – of course – Jimmy Cricket!

To hear Frank singing at the Golden Wellington Club, go to the homepage of this website and click on the arrow in the middle of the screen.

Radio DJ’s photo from the past 150 150 mhamer

Radio DJ’s photo from the past
Jimmy with 10-year-old David at the Lord's Taverners cricket match in the 80s

Jimmy with 10-year-old David at the Lord's Taverners cricket match in the 80s

Jimmy was taken on another nostalgic journey following a radio interview this week.

The Irish funnyman had been speaking to radio presenter David Gordon on the Belfast-based Citybeat about Saturday’s (3 March) funeral of Frank Carson.

After the interview David said that when he was 10 years old he had seen Jimmy in Torquay and had photographic evidence – see above.

David said he went to see Jimmy in a show at the Princess Theatre in Torquay where he was performing along with the late singer Lena Zavaroni.

In an email David said of the photograph: “I think the event was a Lord’s Taverners cricket match in Torquay in summer 1986.”

‘A true entertainer’ 150 150 mhamer

‘A true entertainer’
With Jimmy Cricket at The Seagull are, from left: Marion, Front of House Manager, Ian, one of the directors, and three great volunteers who help to keep the theatre running – Ken, Malcolm and Andy

With Jimmy Cricket at The Seagull are, from left: Marion, Front of House Manager, Ian, one of the directors, and three great volunteers who help to keep the theatre running – Ken, Malcolm and Andy

Jimmy Cricket paid a visit to the Suffolk coast for a show on Saturday February 18.

The well-known Irish comic appeared in front of a large audience at The Seagull Community Interest Theatre in Lowestoft.

Jimmy is pictured above with friends of the theatre.

Since 18 February, Jimmy’s family have been contacted by Tina and Peter Goodall who were at the show.

They said: “What a brilliant night it was, my husband and I laughed all evening. We will definitely be watching out for the show to be in the area again in the future. We travel around a lot in our motorhome so it doesn’t have to be near Norwich, our home city.

“We were lucky enough to be able to speak to Jimmy in the interval and I was amazed and lost for words when at the end of the evening as we were leaving he remembered our names.

“It would have been understandable that he perhaps remembered mine as I was squeaking having lost my voice over three weeks previously but he remembered my husband’s too and for that we will never forget what a lovely man he is.

“He asked me to let him know when my voice is back but sadly that’s not yet. I lost it once before and it was like this for a year and two weeks. Hope he’s not holding his breath haha.

“We love the dvd and I’ve asked my son to buy the letters from me mammy for me for mothers day.

“Anyway, please thank him from Peter and myself for being a true entertainer. It was so refreshing to not hear swearing which spoils the comedy for us.”

Jimmy Cricket and Tina Goodall

Jimmy Cricket and Tina Goodall

"It was the way he told them"
Tribute to the late Frank Carson 241 179 mhamer

Tribute to the late Frank Carson
Comedian Frank Carson

Comedian Frank Carson

Jimmy Cricket has paid a warm and glowing tribute to fellow comedian and great friend Frank Carson who died this week aged 85.

Frank, who like Jimmy was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, passed away on Wednesday after battling ill health for some time.

Famous for his comic sayings “it’s a cracker” and “it’s the way I tell ’em”, Frank rose to prominence in the 60s after winning Opportunity Knocks.

He leaves a wife, Ruth, daughter Majella and sons Tony and Aidan, and 10 grandchildren.

Belfast City Council has opened a book of condolence in Frank’s memory.

Jimmy said: “There are some comedians who can read a telephone directory and make it sound funny. Frank was one of them. His inflection of voice, facial expressions and delivery could make the oldest gags seem fresh and hilarious.

“He was quite inspirational to the likes of me. I saw him leave Northern Ireland and make it big in the UK and this motivated me to do the same.

“I actually headed for Liverpool and presented myself at the office of his then agent, Ernie Mack. He gave me a warm welcome but explained I needed experience. He then rang his star comedian and asked him there and then to have a word with me.

"'Unstoppable enthusiasm"

"Unstoppable enthusiasm"

“Frank said: ‘Try and work every night, even if it’s for nothing. That way you’ll polish up your jokes by putting a word in here and leaving a word out there.’

“Looking back now on that telephone conversation 45 years on, I now see it was a masterclass on how to be a stand-up comedian. When it was over I said: ‘Well Frank, thanks for your advice.’ He said: ‘It’s not advice you want, it’s money!’

“Frank was one of the funniest comedians there ever was both on and off the stage. He spent his life cheering people up and his enthusiasm was unstoppable. He lit up every room he went into.

“He could do his act in a hotel, chat to everybody until two in the morning and be the first one up for breakfast.

“His was a tireless fundraiser for worthy causes and one of his proudest possessions was the Order of the Knighthood of St Gregory. This was bestowed on him by Pope John Paul II in recognition of his work for charity.

“Like a singer has hit tunes, Frank had hit jokes that people wanted to hear over again.

“Because quite simply it was the way he told them.”

* Pay your own tribute to Frank using our comment form below.

Top entertainers: Frank Carson with Jimmy Cricket, Paul Daniels, Cannon and Ball, and the Krankies

Frank Carson with Jimmy Cricket, Paul Daniels, Cannon and Ball, and the Krankies

Raising money for Help for Heroes 150 150 mhamer

Raising money for Help for Heroes
Jimmy Cricket and Phil Walker at the Comedy for Heroes show

Fellow comics Jimmy Cricket and Phil Walker at the fund-raising Comedy for Heroes show in Sale

Jimmy Cricket appeared with fellow comedians at a show to raise money for wounded members of the Armed Forces.

The Comedy for Heroes show, which took place at the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale, Greater Manchester, on Saturday 18 February, was a fundraiser for Help for Heroes.

Other funnymen on the show included John Moloney, Rob Rouse, Phil Walker and Steve Royle.

Comedian and TV presenter Jason Manford made an appearance at the end of the performance, while his brother Colin was compere for the night.

The organisers said afterwards: “We would like to thank our audience for joining us for Comedy for Heroes.

“We had an amazing night. All the comics were brilliant and we had loads of bids for the sports auction prizes. Our bucket was full of raffle tickets for our great prizes too.

“We were even visited by comic royalty in the shape of Jason Manford at the end of the gig!”

Help for Heroes was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry in October 2007 out of a wish to help the wounded servicemen and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

* A video slideshow of Jimmy with several of his fellow comedians involved in this event can be viewed on the front page of this website and at the Welliebootuk channel on YouTube.

Show benefits Anna’s Hope charity 150 150 mhamer

Show benefits Anna’s Hope charity
Jimmy with Carole Hughes, mother of Anna, and Eileen

Jimmy with Carole Hughes, mother of Anna who tragically died from a brain tumour aged just three, and Eileen

Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket has helped to raise money for a charity formed in memory of a little girl who died from a brain tumour.

He was appearing at the Corn Exchange Theatre in Stamford, Lincolnshire, over half-term week and part of the revenue from the show went to a local charity called Anna’s Hope.

The leading children’s brain tumour charity in the east of England, Anna’s Hope is dedicated to giving hope to children and young people diagnosed with a brain tumour.

It was inspired by Anna Olivia Hughes, who tragically died from a brain tumour aged only three years and eight months, and was set up by Anna’s parents, Rob and Carole Hughes, and her five godparents in October 2006.

Jimmy said: “I would like to thank the Corn Exchange manager Judith Mackie who put in a lot of hard work to make my visit happen. It was also her idea to raise funds for this very worthy cause.”