Cricket Times

Thoughts, updates and news from Jimmy Cricket

Fans give Jimmy egg as a present! 150 150 mhamer

Fans give Jimmy egg as a present!

Jimmy Cricket with the volunteers of the West Cliff Theatre’s Friends group

Jimmy Cricket got more than he bargained for when he appeared at one of his favourite venues over Easter.

Jimmy Cricket with Norman Jacobs at the West Cliff Theatre

The well-known entertainer did a show at the West Cliff Theatre – where he is also a patron – in Clacton-in-Sea on Easter Sunday.

He has appeared at the theatre many times over the years and on this occasion brought his ‘Audience with’ show, which gives his fans a chance to ask him questions during the interactive part of the performance.

The host of this question-and-answer session was none other than Norman Jacobs – chair of the trust which runs the theatre and a joint winner of Jimmy’s Golden Wellington award for April.

Norman Jacobs, Jimmy Cricket and West Cliff Theatre manager Paul GeorgeJimmy said: “I was really thrilled with the questions that were flung at  me and thanks to Norman for expertly handling this part of the show on my behalf!”

And a seasonal bonus for Jimmy was when two fans presented him with an Easter egg!

 Images with this story are:

Top – Jimmy with the volunteers of the theatre’s Friends groups.

Above right – Jimmy and Norman in action on stage.

Above – Norman, Jimmy and theatre manager Paul George.

Below – A  couple of Jimmy’s fans who came along to present him with an Easter egg.

A couple of Jimmy Cricket’s fans came along to present him with an Easter egg

Facebook photo recalls Macmillan fundraiser 150 150 mhamer

Facebook photo recalls Macmillan fundraiser

Jimmy Cricket and Mick LockeJimmy Cricket was reminded of a charity show held in Carlisle more than two years ago by a photograph posted recently on Facebook.

The famous Northern Irish comedian is pictured with Mick Locke at the concert, which was called LW Rock4Macmillan and took place at the Shepherd’s Inn.

Jimmy headlined the 2012 edition of the event which is an annual fundraiser organised by Carlisle-based Kelvin Wood, with all proceeds donated to the Macmillan Cancer Support charity.

Theatre campaigners are latest Wellie winners 150 150 mhamer

Theatre campaigners are latest Wellie winners
Jimmy Cricket presents the April Golden Wellie award to Norman Jacobs and Joan Beatton

Jimmy presents the award to Norman Jacobs andJoan Beatton

Jimmy Cricket has announced that two theatre volunteers from Essex are the Golden Wellie winners for April.

Norman Jacobs is the chairman of the Tendering Trust which runs the West Cliff Theatre in the seaside resort of Clacton-on-Sea, while Joan Beatton is the principal co-ordinator of the volunteers who support the venue as a friends group.

Jimmy said: “Norman has been the chair of the trust for a number of years and is unwaveringly devoted to the theatre’s survival.

“He is quite a character and appeared on a TV game show lately where he pocketed  £10,000 in prize money and used it to fund an adventure to south America.

“Joan is a tireless campaigner for the West Cliff Theatre. She leads the volunteers group from the front, putting in so much time and energy to help keep the theatre alive, vibrant and, most importantly, open.”

The West Cliff Theatre is one of Jimmy’s favourite venues – he has appeared there on several occasions in the past, including headlining the 2006 summer season – and he wanted to recognise the efforts of Joan and Norman in trying to keep it going – hence the Golden Wellington award to both of them.

He made the presentation during his last visit to the theatre on Easter Sunday. Jimmy was appearing in the evening, but earlier in the day he was invited to a lunch with the friends group as a special guest and he used the opportunity to present Norman and Joan with the Golden Wellington.

Jimmy Cricket with Norman Jacobs and his wife Linda

Jimmy with Norman and his wife Linda

Green cake with wellies on it! 150 150 mhamer

Green cake with wellies on it!

Jimmy Cricket was presented with an Irish-themed cake when he returned to perform at the Billingham Forum Theatre near MiddlesbroughJimmy Cricket was presented with an Irish-themed cake when he returned to perform at the Billingham Forum Theatre near Middlesbrough.

The famous Belfast-born entertainer appeared in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the North East theatre over the Christmas and New Year period. Sellout crowds watched the pantomime; in fact, the biggest attendances ever for a panto at the venue.

And as he arrived to perform again at the theatre at the start of April, he was greeted with a green cake with a pair of wellingtons on it – Jimmy is renowned in his acts for wearing wellies on the wrong feet!

The cake was made by Stockton resident Yasmin Calvert whose mum, Janet, went to the stage door of the theatre to hand it to Jimmy.Jimmy Cricket appeared in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the North East theatre over the Christmas and New Year period

Jimmy said: “I was overjoyed on receiving it as it’s one of the best that anyone has made for me. I was particularly impressed with the detail of the decoration and amazed at how it was produced all in green!

“A big thank you to Yasmin for the efforts she went to in making this culinary delight for me.”

His comedy show was a triumph as almost 400 people came to see Jimmy on his return.

He invited the Heritage Dance School to perform a  few numbers during the show and added: “I was  very pleased with their efforts as they slotted in really nicely.”

60s pop group among acts at fundraiser 150 150 mhamer

60s pop group among acts at fundraiser

Jimmy Cricket performing at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre in aid of Francis House Children's HospiceA show at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre in which Jimmy Cricket appeared raised almost £6,000 for the Francis House Children’s Hospice in south Manchester.

The gala concert in early April also featured the 60s legends The Ivy League and other excellent performances were from female vocalist Julie A Scott, the double act Harris and Day, and the Greater Manchester Police choir.

It was organised by Jimmy and his close friend Jim Nicholas, who was also the host.

A lot of credit must go to the sponsors of the event who were: Barclays Bank, Swan Inn in Dobcross, Chesters coaches, The Old Bell Inn in Delph, Salford Discount Carpets and Beds, Phoenix Financial Services Ltd, and PJD heating, plumbing and gas fitters.

Press the arrow button below to view a slideshow of the concert. Ricky Sandtime Matthews took the majority of the photographs.

Building communities from nothing… 150 150 mhamer

Building communities from nothing…

The charity Cameo-Aid delivers education to poor and deprived children in East Africa

Jimmy Cricket says he recently received “a very heartening report ” from a gentleman called Tom Power regarding a charity for underprivileged children.

Tom has arranged events over the past year featuring well-known entertainer Jimmy in order to raise money for CAMEO-Aid which delivers education to poor and deprived children in East Africa.The charity Cameo-Aid delivers education to poor and deprived children in East Africa

The events were held in Whitefield, North Manchester and in Haslingden, East Lancashire.

In his role as chairperson of the trustees of the charity, Tom over the month of March has been visiting the education projects CAMEO-Aid has been supporting.

These schemes are at schools in Mbirizi, Uganda and at Mupoi in South Sudan, and Tom – who also provided the photographs on this page – has given some detailed information to Jimmy about each of the projects.

The charity Cameo-Aid delivers education to poor and deprived children in East Africa

He said: “Mbirizi is a bush school.  It is 9km off the road through the bush and is 16km from the nearest school.  This distance is too great a burden for children to travel on a daily basis, hence the building of the school in Mbirizi.

“This school is now proving to be well-managed and is achieving the grades which makes them very competitive with national schools.

The charity Cameo-Aid delivers education to poor and deprived children in East Africa

“One of the side effects of putting the school in Mbirizi is that small shops have now been built to service the school and the community.  From nothing, this community now has a school which employs 10 teachers and has created employment for builders and for the shops.

“In Mupoi, South Sudan, the school is newer and currently has 75 students, three teachers,  a cook and a helper.  This school was won back from the forest and refurbished to its present standard.

“A new toilet and shower block were added and there are plans to add two store rooms and a small room to cope with children who become sick.  They then want to add a kitchen and a dining room in the future.

“As the children move up, they will build more classrooms and be refurbishing another building on this site which will be wrested from the forest.”

For more information on the charity, visit the website here.

The charity Cameo-Aid delivers education to poor and deprived children in East Africa

‘Aching ribs from his continuous hilarity’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Aching ribs from his continuous hilarity’

Jimmy Cricket and the cast for the fundraising concert at Christchurch C of E church in Chatburn, Lancashire

Jimmy Cricket sent “everyone home with a smile on their face” and helped to generate more than £1,000 towards a church development fund recently.

The famous Northern Irish entertainer appeared at a fundraising concert at Christchurch C of E Church in Chatburn, Lancashire.

He was the host and headline performer for the concert which also featured a musical tribute to the Andrews sisters – known as the ‘Sparkle Sisters’ – and an all-male musical act called the ‘Flat Cap Pack’.

Completing the line-up were two musical ensembles comprising of talented students from nearby Stonyhurst College.

The event was organised to raise money for the Church Development Fund as the plan is to install new toilets within the church that are more accessible.

Organiser Clive Greenwood said: “Jimmy was just so terrific. Everyone went out with a smile on their face and a spring in their step, and there were quite a few aching ribs from his continuous hilarity.

“What a performance. He attracted a large audience and helped generate over £1,000 towards the Church Development Fund. Thank you.”