Posts By :

mhamer

Church doubles up as a social centre 150 150 mhamer

Church doubles up as a social centre
Jimmy with Sister Joy, Tony and Fr Peter from the Blessed Cardinal Newman parish in Latchford, Warrington

Jimmy with Sister Joy, Tony and Fr Peter from the Blessed Cardinal Newman parish in Latchford, Warrington

Jimmy Cricket’s fund-raising autumn tour of Roman Catholic parish centres included a church which doubles up as a social club.

In addition to all his other charity work, the Irish comedian raises money for the Francis House Children’s Hospice with Jim Nicholas – who brings his Cliff’s Disco outfit along as support – alongside Jimmy’s wife May Marion, who adds some vocal sparkles.

The tour featured the Blessed Cardinal Newman parish in Latchford, Warrington. The event took place in the main church, which is also the main social centre when partitions are brought in to close off the altar.

It was hugely successful and more than £2,000 was raised.

Special show at the mayor’s request 150 150 mhamer

Special show at the mayor’s request
Jimmy Cricket at the charity show with Northwich Mayor Alison Gerrard and friend

Jimmy Cricket at the charity show with Northwich Mayor Alison Gerrard and friend

Jimmy Cricket has made a special charity appearance in Northwich at the special request of the town’s lady mayor.

Councillor Alison Gerrard asked the famous Irish comedian to appear at the Castle Private Club in Cheshire to help raise money for the Mayor’s Charity Fund.

The DJ on the day was David Cantona Lee whose mother is English and his father is Chinese, prompting Jimmy to joke: “We both are thinking of going into the catering business together – he is opening up a Chinese takeway and next door I am opening up an Irish bring it back!”

Jimmy had appeared at the Brookfield Golf Club near Crewe at the start of the summer and cllr Gerrard was at that show. However, she missed Jimmy’s performance as she accidentally tripped over and fell down some stairs before Jimmy got on stage!

However, after recovering from the accident she was desperate to see Jimmy’s act and so she asked him to perform at her fund-raising event.

Jimmy Cricket and friends – November special 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket and friends – November special

Join famous comedian Jimmy Cricket, his wife May and their good friend, singer Eric Devereaux, for another great night of all-round entertainment on Tuesday, November 1, at St Vincent’s RC Parish Centre, off Caldershaw Road in Norden.

Admission and refreshments (tea, coffee, juice and biscuits) are free, though it is appreciated if you make a contribution to a charity which is chosen on the night. It all starts at 7.30pm.

This will be Jimmy’s last appearance in his local monthly show for 2011 as he is off for panto rehearsals later in November, so he will want to make it a special one!

Jimmy is appearing in the Darlington Civic Theatre’s pantomime at Christmas as Baron Hardup in a version of Cinderella.

Jimmy’s DVD passes another milestone 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s DVD passes another milestone
Jimmy Cricket's DVD "Pull Your Seats Forward - outer-sleeve

Jimmy Cricket's DVD is called "Pull Your Seats Forward

Some news about sales of Jimmy Cricket’s first ever DVD, called “Pull Your Seats Forward”.

Recorded live at the Royal Court Theatre in Bacup, it has now sold more than 2,000 copies!

It is an hour and 10 minutes long and includes Jimmy’s favourite routines, a phone call and letter from his mammy, his famous “Leaving Home” poem, his sentimental ballad called “I’m Dreaming of a Far off Land” and 20 minutes of extras.

To find out how to buy the DVD, visit the Go Shopping section of this website.

Over £6,000 raised for Francis House 150 150 mhamer

Over £6,000 raised for Francis House


Jimmy and The Krankies

Jimmy and The Krankies

Jimmy Cricket helped to raise more than £6,000 for a Manchester-based charity at a two-night extravaganza.

The famous Irish comedian appeared in the fund-raising “Stars Come Out” show at the Oldham Coliseum on Monday and Tuesday (October 10 and 11), along with husband and wife comedy duo The Krankies and sixties Merseybeat band The Swinging Blue Jeans, of “You’re no Good” and the “Hippy Hippy Shake” fame. The show also featured the Dobcross Youth Band.

An extra night was added after the originally-planned one-day performance was sold out.

Jimmy’s good friend, Jim Nicholas, was the evening’s host and he also co-produced the show. Jim has a disco outfit called “Cliff’s Disco” and as a day job is the chief gardener at the Bishop of Salford’s residence, Wardley Hall.

On the Monday night the comedian Stu Francis came to watch as the Krankies were staying overnight with him in Bolton because they are good friends. He was enlisted to help with the raffle. On the Tuesday night Coronation Street fiesty newcomer Catherine Tyldesley (Eva Price) assisted with the raffle.

The money from the shows will go to Francis House Children’s Hospice, which is based at Didsbury in Manchester. The Hospice cares for children and young adults with life-threatening conditions and provides a home from home where families can receive professional care, support and friendship.

Jimmy Cricket said: “At the end of each show we were grateful for the director of Francis House – Rev David Ireland (who also happens to be the main reverend for the United Reform Church in central Oldham) to be on hand to personally thank each and every one of the audience for coming along and supporting the event on behalf of the charity.”

Cricket and bowling on a special afternoon 150 150 mhamer

Cricket and bowling on a special afternoon
Jimmy Cricket awards the top junior prize to Kieran McGarry, alongside club president Pete Metcalf and club secretary Steve Morris

Jimmy Cricket awards the top junior prize to Kieran McGarry, with club president Pete Metcalf and secretary Steve Morris

Local comedian Jimmy Cricket was the special guest at Kirkholt Bowling Club in Rochdale when he attended the season’s finale, which the club marks with an event called President’s Sunday.

Jimmy was asked to take part in a presentation to award prizes to the club’s junior bowlers.

Naturally he could not curb his input to just giving out awards and so he also gave the club members a giggle or two. This was just the tonic as some members were preparing to re-enter the fray for the main bowling competition of the afternoon.

“It was great to pop into Kirkholt Bowling Club and support them in this way. They have a great junior set-up at the club and I was impressed at how many young people take part in the junior activities,” said Jimmy.

“I was hopeless at bowling as a youngster as I kept sticking my fingers in the wrong holes – one time I got mixed up with my Uncle Paddy because he happened to be bald!”

Club president Pete Metcalf said: “It was fantastic that Jimmy could grant us some of his time and help with this end-of-season presentation. The members present were really thrilled to see him and they all thought the experience was wonderful.

“The junior section of our club is really important to us and I am really pleased that some of our juniors have now gone on to represent Rochdale and the region.

“The Kirkholt Bowling Club continues to be a family club, so if there are any juniors in the area interested in joining us for the 2012 season, our door is always open.”

In aid of the East Africa Famine Appeal 150 150 mhamer

In aid of the East Africa Famine Appeal

Poster for Jimmy Cricket's night of entertainment in aid of the East Africa Famine AppealComedian Jimmy Cricket will be joined by special guest star Shobna Gulati from Coronation Street for an evening of entertainment to raise funds for this charity.

The East Africa Famine Appeal will benefit from the event at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn on Saturday, October 15, starting at 7.30pm.

Book your tickets, which are priced at just £6 each, on 01254 685500.