Cricket Times

Thoughts, updates and news from Jimmy Cricket

Lyndene Hotel: Christmas acts revealed at Blackpool hotel 150 150 mhamer

Lyndene Hotel: Christmas acts revealed at Blackpool hotel

Jimmy Cricket is billed as “TV’s Irish comedy legend” in the Lyndene Hotel’s Christmas line-up.

Jimmy Cricket headlines the Lyndene Hotel's Christmas line-up

The Blackpool hotel has revealed its festive acts on a sparkling poster (above).

Jimmy tweeted: “Sharing the new poster from @TowerTopEnts for Christmas, hosted @LyndeneHotel this festive season!🎭”

A poster shows the Halloween Week acts at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

The famous entertainer will perform on three nights during December – 11, 18 and 31.

He also appears during Halloween week at the popular seaside resort (see right for poster).

Before then, Jimmy is back at the Lyndene Hotel after a break over the summer on Wednesday 4 September.

You can see the rest of his dates at the hotel for 2019 below.

The Lyndene, perched on the seafront, is one of Blackpool’s unique locations as it welcomes tourists and visitors all year round.

Its Twitter account says it is a “beautiful 140 ensuite bedroom seafront hotel offering entertainment every evening, 3/4 atistes nightly, inc top tribute acts”.

Jimmy, who turns 74 in October, performs in two separate lounges on the same night, along with the other artists.

Other acts include comedian Carl Schofield, a Vintage with Style show from CJ Stewart and Stars in Their Eyes winner Peter Sarsfield as Frankie Valli.

Jimmy Cricket's Lyndene Hotel dates in 2019

Jimmy announced earlier this year that he is to spend a FIFTH season next year at the Lyndene Hotel.

The Belfast-born comedian, who lives in his adopted hometown of Rochdale, has at least two shows almost every month in 2020.

That is apart from December, when he performs three times, and February when he has none.

See next year’s dates below and visit the hotel’s website here.

Tour dates

You can check room availability and book here.

Or you can ring the hotel directly on 01253 346779.

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.Returning to what has become my second home working alongside many talented singers and old friends like @MALFORDUK , my thanks goes to Claire @TowerTopEnts and @LyndeneHotel the Manager Paul, and all the Team members for their hospitality and support over the last four years

Francis House: 18 years of fundraising for hospice 150 150 mhamer

Francis House: 18 years of fundraising for hospice

Jimmy Cricket has posted a booklet about his favourite charity, Francis House Children’s Hospice, on social media.
The popular entertainer has raised around half-a-million pounds for the south Manchester charity over the years.
That is thanks to countless touring shows and parish hall events over almost two decades.

These include The Stars come out for Francis House,which has now had eight editions at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

As well as Jimmy, this year’s line-up in April featured 60s rock band Amen Corner and Peter Sarsfield’s tribute to Frankie Valli.

Long-standing hospice supporter and entertainer Jim Nicholas hosted the event.

Came across this Francis House booklet sent to me by @FrancisHouseCH because of my involvement over the last eighteen years of fundraising, with my good friend Jim Nicholas. The Hospice was first conceived by Sister Aloysius and Fr Mulheran, now run by the architect and Pastor David Ireland.
Based at Didsbury, Francis House cares for children and young adults with life-threatening conditions.
It provides a home from home where families can receive professional care, support and friendship.

The Rainbow Family Trust was set up in the early 1990s as a charity by Sister Aloysius and Father Thomas Mulheran.

They were concerned about the lack of palliative care for the families of children with a short life expectancy.

Opened by Princess Diana

As a result, the seven-bedroom Francis House opened in November 1991, with Diana, Princess of Wales, officially doing the honours.

It was only the fifth children’s hospice built in the UK and the world.

Jimmy tweeted: “Came across this booklet [above] sent to me by @FrancisHouseCH  because of my involvement over the last eighteen years of fundraising, with my good friend Jim Nicholas.

“The Hospice was first conceived by Sister Aloysius and Fr Mulheran, now run by the architect and Pastor David Ireland.”

Francis House replied: And we love this fun pic of you from your 70th fun run and one of Jim on the back cover!

Francis House sent a reply to Jimmy’s tweet with the picture above.

It said: “And we love this fun pic of you from your 70th fun run and one of Jim on the back cover!”

Read a timeline of the history of the hospice here

Also see: Francis House benefits from Rochdale ‘jam’ night

 

From Filey to Freckleton …followed by a wedding 150 150 mhamer

From Filey to Freckleton …followed by a wedding

Jimmy Cricket has had a busy time since returning from a family holiday in New York.

The famous Northern Irish comedian performed at the Evron Centre in Filey on the East Yorkshire coast on Saturday 10 August.

He and wife May stayed overnight in Filey before returning south the following day to do a show at the Freckleton Sports & Social Club in Lancashire.

Then this weekend, they attended the wedding of an old friend of Jimmy at St Mary’s Welwyn in Hertfordshire.

Jimmy said: “Great afternoon at the Evron Centre in Filey for the Filey Gospel Briggfest Weekend, with organisers, singer Paul Wheater, (who sounds just like the late Jim Reeves), and Samuel Purdy who was on keyboards. My thanks to Dan on the sound! 🎭”

Great afternoon at the Evron Centre in Filey for the Filey Gospel Briggfest Weekend, with organisers, singer Paul Wheater, (who sounds just like the late Jim Reeves), and Samuel Purdy who was on keyboards. My thanks to Dan on the sound!

The following morning, he tweeted the photo below, saying: “Had a lovely overnight stay and breakfast at the, “Beachdale Guesthouse”, with Stan and Heather, then had a lovely walk along Filey’s beautiful beach with Mrs C. before leaving this lovely holiday resort!”

Had a lovely overnight stay and breakfast at the, “Beachdale Guesthouse”, with Stan and Heather, then had a lovely walk along Filey’s beautiful beach with Mrs C. before leaving this lovely holiday resort!

Jimmy’s next port of call was the Freckleton Sports & Social Club (below) where he said it was a “lovely afternoon for my old friend Tony Jo”.

Lovely afternoon at the Feckleton Sports and Social Club for my old friend Tony Jo

It was on to the wedding six days later for Jimmy and May to round off a busy week.

He tweeted: “Had the great pleasure today to attend the wedding of my old friend George Saunders, (who I first met back in 1970 in Lewis’s in Liverpool where we both were demonstrators), and his partner Sandra! 🍾 🥂”

Had the great pleasure today to attend the wedding of my old friend George Saunders, (who I first met back in 1970 in Lewis’s in Liverpool where we both were demonstrators), and his partner Sandra! 

 

Celebrating the life of comedy legend Jimmy Patton 150 150 mhamer

Celebrating the life of comedy legend Jimmy Patton

Me and Mrs C. have been to the funeral of one of Comedy’s Showbiz Legends, Jimmy Patton, with so many showbiz friends today, and we met up after to celebrate his life, singing and telling stories, at the hotel where him and wife Amy attended a regular showbiz get together!

Jimmy Cricket and his wife May have bid farewell to “comedy showbiz legend” Jimmy Patton.

They recently attended the funeral of the well-known entertainer who died late last month aged 87.

Jimmy Patton was an older sibling of the Chuckle Brothers (Paul and the late Barry Elliott).

He often appeared on their BBC children’s television show ChuckleVision, broadcast from 1987 to 2009.

He usually played the role of an authority figure. Barry died on in August last year aged 73.

Comedian Jimmy tweeted: “Me and Mrs C. have been to the funeral of one of Comedy’s Showbiz Legends, Jimmy Patton, with so many showbiz friends today, and we met up after to celebrate his life, singing and telling stories, at the hotel where him and wife Amy attended a regular showbiz get together!”

Jimmy Patton also formed a comedy double act with brother Brian.

They were known as The Patton Brothers in the entertainments business.

Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy posted the video below to his “dear friend”.

He said: “Here is one we did together with brother Brian and our friend Chris, the fourth member in the, “Upper Sketch”.”

Jimmy said it was written by @eddie_braben for the third series of And There’s More.

Also read: So sad to hear of panto pal’s death

‘Many happy memories’ of the late Barry Chuckle

 

Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, then on to 9/11 Memorial 150 150 mhamer

Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, then on to 9/11 Memorial

Our last day in New York and we went to celebrate Mass in the iconic St Patrick’s Cathedral then onto 9/11 Memorials where once the Twin Towers stood, a day etched in all our minds, now an epitaph to all those who died, and also a testament to man’s lack of humanity and empathy!

Mass at a famous cathedral and the 9/11 Memorial were on the itinerary for Jimmy Cricket and his family.

Earlier during their holiday in New York, they watched a show on Broadway and visited the historic Ellis Island.

Jimmy tweeted: “Our last day in New York and we went to celebrate Mass in the iconic St Patrick’s Cathedral.

“Then onto 9/11 Memorial where once the Twin Towers stood, a day etched in all our minds

“Now an epitaph to all those who died and also a testament to man’s lack of humanity and empathy.”

Ellis Island, in New York Harbour, contains a museum and a former immigration inspection station.

It was the United States’ busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954.

Ellis Island processed about 12 million immigrants to the country through the Port of New York and New Jersey.

The Statue of Liberty

Today, it is part of the Statue of Liberty national monument (right) and hosts a museum of immigration (below).

Popular entertainer Jimmy posted several messages and photos of the holiday.

He tweeted: “Been to see this wonderful musical, taken from the classic Disney film, “Frozen”, at the St James Theatre!

“Been to this wonderful city that never sleeps a few times, but never to Ellis Island, where walking in the footsteps of my fellow Irish countrymen in 1845, who came seeking a better life.

“I entered the Registry Room, then onto to Liberty Island to meet the great lady once again!”

The US trip included a visit to Hoboken, New Jersey, birthplace of legendary American singer and actor Frank Sinatra.

Jimmy posted: “I had the great pleasure of visiting the town of Hoboken where Sinatra was born and had spend his formative years.“

Follow Jimmy on Twitter here.
See the Tour Dates section here on this website to keep up to date with all Jimmy’s movements.

Also read: You Must Be Joking show set to return at Newry Town Hall

Walking in the footsteps of my fellow Irish countrymen

Walking in the footsteps of my fellow Irish countrymen 150 150 mhamer

Walking in the footsteps of my fellow Irish countrymen

Been to see with my family, this wonderful musical, taken from the classic Disney film, “Frozen”, at the St James Theatre, on Broadway this evening!

Jimmy Cricket and his family enjoyed a recent holiday in New York.

It included a visit to the famous Broadway to watch a show and also a trip to the historic Ellis Island.

Ellis Island, in New York Harbour, contains a museum and a former immigration inspection station.

It was the United States’ busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 to 1954.

Ellis Island processed about 12 million immigrants to the country through the Port of New York and New Jersey.

The Statue of Liberty

Today, it is part of the Statue of Liberty national monument (right) and hosts a museum of immigration (below).

Popular entertainer Jimmy posted several messages and photos of the holiday.

The pictures included those at the top of this article.

Jimmy said: “Been to see this wonderful musical, taken from the classic Disney film, “Frozen”, at the St James Theatre!”

He added: “Been to this wonderful city that never sleeps a few times, but never to Ellis Island, where walking in the footsteps of my fellow Irish countrymen in 1845, who came seeking a better life.

“I entered the Registry Room, then onto to Liberty Island to meet the great lady once again!”

Been to this wonderful city that never sleeps a few times, but never to Ellis Island, where walking in the footsteps of my fellow Irish countrymen in 1845, who came seeking a better life, I entered the Registry Room, then onto to Liberty Island to meet the great lady once again!

The US trip included a visit to Hoboken, New Jersey, birthplace of legendary American singer and actor Frank Sinatra.

Jimmy posted: “I had the great pleasure of visiting the town of Hoboken where Sinatra was born and had spend his formative years.“

Follow Jimmy on Twitter here.

The popular comedian is back in action this weekend with performances around the country on both Saturday and Sunday.

See the Tour Dates section here on this website to keep up to date with all his movements.

Also read: You Must Be Joking show set to return at Newry Town Hall

Jimmy Patton: So sad to hear of panto pal’s death 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Patton: So sad to hear of panto pal’s death

So sad and with a heavy heart I have just found out that my friend and colleague Jimmy Patton whom I had the enormous pleasure of working with has passed away

Jimmy Cricket has posted on social media the photo above of his panto appearance in the mid-80s alongside fellow comedian Jimmy Patton who died late last month aged 87.

Jimmy Patton was an older sibling of the Chuckle Brothers (Paul and the late Barry Elliott).

He often appeared on their BBC children’s television show ChuckleVision, broadcast from 1987 to 2009.

He usually played the role of an authority figure. Barry died on in August last year aged 73.

Jimmy said: “So sad and with a heavy heart I have just found out that my friend and colleague Jimmy Patton whom I had the enormous pleasure of working with has passed away.”

Jimmy Patton also formed a comedy double act with brother Brian.

They were known as The Patton Brothers in the entertainments business.

Jimmy added: “Jimmy and his brother Brian taught me so much about Panto routines like the ice-cream sketch back in the eighties R.I.P.”

As a tribute, Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy also posted the video below to his “dear friend”.

He said: “Here is one we did together with brother Brian and our friend Chris, the fourth member in the, “Upper Sketch”.”

Jimmy said it was written by @eddie_braben for the third series of And There’s More.