Jimmy Cricket

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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.”

Presenting… the Jimmy & Alfie Show 150 150 mhamer

Presenting… the Jimmy & Alfie Show

Jimmy Cricket is set to join forces with BBC Radio Newcastle’s Alfie Joey for a comedy show to be reckoned with at South Shield’s The Customs House

The legendary Jimmy Cricket is set to join forces with BBC Radio Newcastle’s Alfie Joey for a comedy extravaganza at The Customs House Theatre in South Shields.

For one night only, two of the finest exponents of the art of comedy will bring their contrasting styles to a show that will be bursting with one-liners, gags, stories and the odd punchline or two!

The Jimmy and Alfie Show is on Saturday 10 May.  Tickets have been kept affordable, with the top price capped at £14.

Alfie said: “It is a sheer delight to be sharing the stage with a comedy great like Jimmy Cricket.

“By teaming up with Jimmy, we not only complement one another, but we’ll bring different gag-telling approaches to the evening. This means those who can come along will have a real taste of comedy throughout our show at The Customs House.”

Jimmy said: “I’ve worked with Alfie on a number of occasions in the past, including teaming up together a couple of years ago for a show at the ARC arts centre in Stockton-on-Tees. So I was thrilled to be offered this chance to work with him again in South Shields because he is just great fun to be around.

“Why not come along and indulge in a few chuckles in what will be a splendid evening of laughter and frivolity!”

Lemon Tree, jam night & soap stars 150 150 mhamer

Lemon Tree, jam night & soap stars

Brian and Maxine from the renowned band caked Lemon Tree

A renowned band called Lemon Tree were among the artists at a recent jam night organised and hosted by famous comedian Jimmy Cricket.

Local, national and sometimes international entertainers perform for nothing at the monthly event which takes place at St Vincents RC Parish Centre in Norden, Rochdale.

Among the musicians at the jam evening in March was Lemon Tree which features Brian and Maxine.

Jimmy said: “The pair have been in the business of performing for a number of years and Lemon Tree developed a reputation of being one of the best corporate live musical bands in the country.

“As a result they were never out of work and travelled the length and breadth of the country performing at major corporate events and company parties.”

Out of the success of the band, Brian also developed an entertainment agency called the Lemon Tree Agency.

It initially specialised in arranging musical acts and bands,  but of late Brian has developed the personal appearance side of the business through links he has made with a number of soap stars. His new website can be found here. 

Brian and Maxine are seen above performing at the St Vincents jam night in March and, below, they are pictured with Jimmy.

Both photographs were taken by St Vincent’s photographer John Kay.

Jimmy Cricket with Brian and Maxine from the renowned band caked Lemon Tree
Fitting tribute to a former chairman 150 150 mhamer

Fitting tribute to a former chairman

Irish Post feature about Jimmy Cricket was at the Leeds Mayo Association’s annual dinner dance at the Leeds Irish Centre

Jimmy Cricket was the host and master of ceremonies at an emotional dinner dance in West Yorkshire earlier this year.

The well-known entertainer was invited, along with his wife May, to host the Leeds Mayo Association’s annual event at the Leeds Irish Centre.

The dance, which took place at the beginning of February, was an emotional occasion as the former chair of the association – Frank Ansboro – had only passed away late last year. 

Jimmy said: “Members from other Mayo Associations had travelled up to Leeds to be present at what turned out to be a fitting tribute to Frank.”

An article featuring lots of pictures of the event appeared in the 15 March edition of the Irish Post, which is popular within the Irish community of the UK.

It included not only a great animated photo of Jimmy in action (above), but another one towards the end of the article which featured his wife, May (on the right of the picture bottom middle below).

Irish Post feature about Jimmy Cricket was at the Leeds Mayo Association’s annual dinner dance at the Leeds Irish Centre

Priest with ‘show business in his blood’ 150 150 mhamer

Priest with ‘show business in his blood’

Irish World article is about Jimmy Cricket's second son, Fr Frankie Mulgrew

The Irish World newspaper has featured a special article about Jimmy Cricket’s second son, newly ordained priest Fr Frankie Mulgrew.

It appeared in the 8 March edition of the Irish World, which is one of the main newspapers serving the Irish community in the UK.

The Irish World newspaper has featured a special article about Jimmy Cricket's second son, newly ordained priest Fr Frankie Mulgrew

Fr Frankie, who was ordained to the Roman Catholic Church last summer, and his famous entertainer-dad can be seen on page 3 of the newspaper.

The article was written by Jimmy’s friend Gerry Molumby who lives in Nottingham and reports on how Jimmy is incredibly proud of his son, Frankie, becoming a priest.

Fr Frankie  – a regular entertainer before he was ordained – is described as having “more than a little show business in his blood”.

It also provides some details about where he is currently undertaking his ministry – at the Parish of Our Lady of the Valley in East Lancashire.

The ordination service took place at Salford Cathedral on the afternoon of Saturday 13 July 2013 and was presided over by the Rt Rev Bishop Terence Brain – Bishop of Salford – and in the presence of the Rt Rev Mark Davis, Bishop of Shrewsbury.

It was a joint ordination as Frankie’s friend, Nathan Horne, was also ordained to the priesthood and so the cathedral was packed with nearly 800 people in attendance.

Fr Frankie’s first Mass was at St Vincent’s RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, the following day.