Cricket Times

Thoughts, updates and news from Jimmy Cricket

Maloney’s Big Moment 150 150 mhamer

Maloney’s Big Moment

Cast in Maloney's Big Moment: Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner, Sarah Groarke-Booth and Jimmy CricketA newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor inspired top entertainer Jimmy Cricket to write a new radio play.

And Maloney’s Big Moment got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale.

Famous comedian Jimmy wrote the play after seeing the article and thinking it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!Radio producer Roger Neale

Joining Jimmy for the recording in early April was a host of locally based actors and actresses.

These included Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner and Sarah Groarke-Booth (all the cast are in the photo above), alongside the production team of Gerry Coates and Roger Neale.

Roger Neale (right) came all the way from Mansfield to help out with the production of the play.

Gerry Coates, from the internet Catholic radio station called Heart Gives unto Heart, and Jimmy between them made the production happen.

Interestingly, the new radio station has been acquired by the national Catholic newspaper called The Universe and will now become a division under this paper’s banner.

It is hoped during the relaunch of the station that this radio play will feature prominently in the opening week’s schedule – watch out for further details on this website.

:: Thanks to John Kay for providing these two great photos from this event.

Where will Jimmy be at Christmas? 150 150 mhamer

Where will Jimmy be at Christmas?

Jimmy Cricket will be headlining the Christmas panto at the Forum Theatre in BillinghamJimmy Cricket will be headlining the 2013 Christmas panto at the Forum Theatre in Billingham, just outside the city of Middlesbrough.

Jimmy Cricket will be headlining the Christmas panto at the Forum Theatre in Billingham

The Irish entertainer will be playing the role of Muddles in a version of Snow White and the seven Dwarves.

The panto will be produced by the hugely experience Duggie Chapman, who has been in charge of the Forum theatre’s panto for the last 15 or so years.

Jimmy posed for the photos on this page last month at a mini press launch which attracted significant interest from the local media. The full launch of the theatre’s Christmas season is not scheduled until the autumn.

Jimmy Cricket will be headlining the Christmas panto at the Forum Theatre in BillinghamHe said: “I’m excited about visiting the North East again at Christmas time. I have featured in pantos in the region before and each time I have received a very warm reception.

“I am also thrilled to be teaming up with Duggie Chapman again, as previously we worked together on Christmas shows at Southport and Ashton-under-Lyne.

“These pantos were hugely successful, both creatively and on the number of people who came along to see the shows.”

Irish legend and free Irish food! 150 150 mhamer

Irish legend and free Irish food!

Jimmy Cricket with the committee who organised the eventIrish legend Jimmy Cricket was the star act at a recent Gala evening run by the Mansfield and Dukeries Irish Association.

Gerry Molumby comperes with Jimmy Cricket sharing the laughterThe entertainment was organised by Nigel Scott and his hard-working committee and the compere for the evening was Gerry Molumby.

Acts also included guitarist Craig Deller and musical group Acushla.

A valuable prize raffle was included together with free Irish food, which warmed up the capacity audience on a bitterly cold April evening.

The Scott family from Mansfield with Jimmy CricketThe venue was the popular social club Boothys in central Mansfield.

Photos with this story are as follows:

Top – The committee who organised the event with Jimmy.

Above right – Gerry Molumby comperes with Jimmy sharing the laughter.

Above left – The Scott family from Mansfield with Jimmy.

Below – Sue and Gerry Sarson with Julie and Mark Brough.

Sue and Gerry Sarson with Julie and Mark Brough

 

Bumping into an old friend… 150 150 mhamer

Bumping into an old friend…
Jimmy Cricket checks out the measurements of the new stall

Jimmy checks out the measurements of the new stall at Heywood Indoor Market

Jimmy Cricket bumped into a friend whom he had not seen for some time when he attended the 10th anniversary celebration of Heywood Indoor Market.

Her name is Jennifer Shaw who has in the past been a promoter of shows and an events organiser.

Some of the shows she has promoted have involved Jimmy and Buzz Hawkins of The Bradshaws fame.

Jennifer still organises golfing events, but recently she has turned her attentions to a haberdashery stall on Heywood Indoor Market which she took over around a year ago.

Said Jimmy: “I was really delighted to see Jennifer again and wish her well with this new venture.”

Easter shows on the border 150 150 mhamer

Easter shows on the border
Jimmy Cricket and Clive Abbot performing

Jimmy and Clive Abbot performing

The northern-most town in England was one of the latest destinations for top entertainer Jimmy Cricket.

Jimmy Cricket with Ted, a champion ballroom dancer and ex-Royal Navy officer

Jimmy with Ted, a champion ballroom dancer

He appeared in Berwick-upon-Tweed on the England-Scotland border for two shows over the Easter weekend.

First, the famous Irish comedian was at Berwick Bowling Club and the following night he performed at Tweedmouth Bowling Club.

Both featured Jimmy as the headline artist, supported by the gifted singer and guitar player Clive Abbot.

The two shows were put together by local businessman Albert Whyte.

Albert runs the excellently rated b&B establishment Whyteside House in the heart of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Jimmy Cricket with two bowling committee members.at Tweedmouth

Jimmy with two bowling committee members at Tweedmouth

 

New heritage centre and tea rooms open 150 150 mhamer

New heritage centre and tea rooms open
The redecorated tea room at the visitor centre

The redecorated tea rooms at the visitor centre

Jimmy Cricket recently attended the press launch of the new Healey Dell Heritage centre and tea rooms near to where he lives in Rochdale.

The famous Irish entertainer was invited to the opening event by Janice Percy, who had teamed up with a friend to save the centre when she heard Rochdale Council no longer wanted to keep it open.

Jimmy with Lorraine, one of the centre’s volunteers

Jimmy with Lorraine, one of the centre’s volunteers

Jimmy did not need to think twice about going because when he is not working he often goes walking in Healey Dell, as he lives on the edge of this nature reserve.

Last December Janice and her partnership took on the lease of the building and set about raising around £25,000 for its refurbishment.

She also started to look for volunteers who would help the project get off the ground.

Janice and her team have now revived the old building and have created the following:

The exterior of the building - the fairy is there in preparation for the children’s Easter activities!

Outside the centre – the fairy is there in preparation for the children’s Easter activities!

  • A heritage room – An all-year-round exhibition dedicated to the rich heritage of the nature reserve
  • Dedicated gallery space to showcase the work of local artists and photographers
  • A vintage style tea room featuring a baby grand piano and six sparkling crystal chandeliers where visitors will enjoy traditional cream teas served from vintage bone china
  • Newly converted disabled facilities/wheelchair access and disabled toilet and washroom

The centre reopened on the Thursday before the Easter weekend and  the tea rooms will now open every Saturday and Sunday over the summer season. The centre is run entirely by unpaid volunteers.

Jimmy with the Rochdale-based actor Colin Meredith, who recently appeared on Coronation Street

Jimmy with the Rochdale-based actor Colin Meredith, who recently appeared on Coronation Street

Celebrating 10 years of magic market 150 150 mhamer

Celebrating 10 years of magic market

Jimmy Cricket at the 10th anniversary of the relaunch of Heywood Market HallComedian Jimmy Cricket went along to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the relaunch of Heywood Market Hall – also known as Heywood Magic Market.

Jimmy Cricket at the 10th anniversary of the relaunch of Heywood Market Hall

A celebratory event was organised to mark what has been a  tremendous success story for the market, as it was forced to close at the end of the 1990s, but reopened in 2003.

Jimmy said: “It was relaunched as a co-operative venture, with local market traders having a stake in the management of the market – and it has not looked back!”

The famous entertainer was invited along by his good friend Peter Rush, who is a councillor on Rochdale Council and who will be the local mayor from May of this year.

* The pictures show Jimmy having a great time at the event.

Jimmy Cricket at the 10th anniversary of the relaunch of Heywood Market Hall