Posts Tagged :

Butlin’s redcoat

Roy Hudd: One of the great performers, writers and comics 150 150 mhamer

Roy Hudd: One of the great performers, writers and comics

Hi folks! Here is my tribute to Roy Hudd, one of the great performers/writer/comic of our generation who is sadly missed by everyone who had the great pleasure of knowing him, here is a link if you would like to donate and help the statue appeal 🎭https://theroyhuddstatueappeal.co.uk/donations

The late Roy Hudd OBE was “one of the country’s best-loved entertainers”, Jimmy Cricket says in his latest newspaper column.

Writing in the Lancashire Post, Jimmy recalls that he first saw Roy performing on TV in the 1960s.

And then the two met in the 1980s after which they became long-lasting friends.

Roy, an actor, comedian radio host, author and authority on the history of music hall entertainment, died in 2020 at the age of 83 after a short illness.

Coronation Street

His widow Debbie heads up the Roy Hudd Statue Appeal, which is raising funds for a lasting monument to him.

Roy earned praise for his roles in Dennis Potter’s Lipstick on your Collar and Karaoke in the 1990s.

The Croydon-born all-round entertainer appeared in Coronation Street as Archie Shuttleworth on and off between 2002 and 2010.

He also starred in acclaimed crime drama Ashes to Ashes. Other TV credits included Broadchurch, Benidorm and Casualty.

Roy hosted BBC Radio 2’s The News Huddlines for 26 years.

Jimmy posted about the newspaper column on social media.

He said: “Hi folks! Here is my tribute to one of the great performers/writers/comics of our generation, who is sadly missed by everyone who had the great pleasure of knowing him.

“Here is a link if you would like to donate and help with Roy and @DebHudd statue appeal theroyhuddstatueappeal.co.uk/donations.”

In his column, Jimmy says: “Roy and I shared so much in common.

“We’d both been Butlin’s Redcoats and we both loved twice-nightly variety, which we were both lucky to see as kids.”

Lyndene return

Jimmy begins his EIGHTH season at the popular Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool on Wednesday (5 July).

He will also be returning on 2 August, 6 September, 4 October, 1 November and 6 December.
Autobiography
A reminder that Jimmy’s autobiography, Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian, is available at online retailer Amazon here.

The paperback costs £11.99.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

What Roy Hudd said about Jimmy Cricket

Exclusive: My official autobiography can be ordered now! 150 150 mhamer

Exclusive: My official autobiography can be ordered now!

The Jimmy Cricket Story is the famous comedian's official autobiography

Jimmy Cricket is proud to exclusively reveal to all his website readers that his official autobiography will be available from the end of this week!

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s illustrious life and career – told in his own words.

The book is officially available from Saturday 1 April and can be ordered from online retailer Amazon here.

And the famous funnyman has a special message for all his friends and fans to accompany the news of this exciting launch.

He says: “It’s here, friends. The story of how it all began.

“From my childhood growing up in Northern Ireland …

“… through the Butlin’s Redcoat days in the sixties,  when every camp  had a custom-built theatre …

“… the Pontins Bluecoat days when I met my good lady May …

” … the northern clubs in the seventies when there was a social club in practically every street corner …

” … and the eighties when the television schedules were dominated by variety shows.

“It’ll strike a chord with older readers and give younger ones an insight into a world that seemed to vanish before our very eyes.

“And there’s more.

“It also gives me a chance to thank publicly some of the people who’ve helped me through life’s journey.”

Warm memories

The page promoting Jimmy’s autobiography on Amazon says: “This book is a personally written account of Jimmy’s 50 Golden Years in showbusiness.

“From holiday camp Redcoat to Bluecoat, then on to his first big break on television, (after many struggles).

“Going on to headline for four of his own series for Central television in the 1980s with Royal Command Performances and TV Variety shows in between.

“Then his BBC Radio 2 series written by the great scriptwriter Eddie Braben in the 1990s which ran for five years called, Jimmy’s Cricket Team.

“As Jimmy says himself in the book: ‘I hope it brings back warm memories for older readers’.

“‘And gives a taste to younger readers of a form of entertainment that seemed to vanish before our very eyes.'”

A reminder that Jimmy’s book is available on Amazon here. 

The paperback book is priced at £11.99.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charitysupports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Also read: From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

Frankie Whittle: A great friend for over half a century 150 150 mhamer

Frankie Whittle: A great friend for over half a century

What a fabulous turn out for our dear friend and showbiz colleague, Frankie Whittle at Carleton Crematorium today, we started out as Redcoats at Butlins Clacton in 1968, and had remained great friends during all these years! ! R.I.P.

Jimmy Cricket said a final farewell to fellow entertainer Frankie Whittle, a great friend for more than 50 years.

The crematorium service for Frankie, known as Bolton’s “singing milkman”, took place in Blackpool on Wednesday 16 February.

Jimmy said: “What a fabulous turnout for our dear friend and showbiz colleague, Frankie Whittle at Carleton Crematorium today.

“We started out as Redcoats at Butlins Clacton in 1968 and had remained great friends during all these years! R.I.P.”

Jimmy and Frankie were fellow Redcoats at Butlin’s holiday site in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

“Being a Redcoat was a great passion of Frankie’s – he would have done it 365 days of the year if he could,” added Jimmy.

“It’s special to think that we stayed very good friends for 54 years.”

Frankie enjoyed a showbiz career of more than 50 years.

Among other things, he was an actor/panto dame in addition to being singer/compere at The Music Hall Tavern in Blackpool.

Jimmy recently posted a video on social media of a sketch involving dancing binmen in memory of his late friend.

It features him, Frankie and others as binmen who perform a dance routine around the bins.

The funny clip ends with them running after the bin lorry which has driven off without them!

Watch the video by clicking here – it should begin automatically, but if not click on the arrow in the image and turn on/up the volume as necessary.

Frankie’s Redcoat Memories

Also read from this website: Butlin’s reunion from the 1960s

Frankie Whittle: From Butlin’s to Blackpool’s Music Hall Tavern

Frankie Whittle: From Butlin’s to Music Hall Tavern 150 150 mhamer

Frankie Whittle: From Butlin’s to Music Hall Tavern

Hi folks here's a tribute to my great friend Frankie Whittle R.I.P. We first worked together as Red Coats in Butlins in the Summer of 1968 Frankie went on to become an Actor/Panto Dame, and Singer/Compere at The Music Hall Tavern in Blackpool my thoughts are with his sister Carol

Jimmy Cricket has posted a video of dancing binmen in memory of his late friend Frankie Whittle.

The two were fellow Redcoats at Butlin’s holiday site in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, in the 60s.

Frankie, known as Bolton’s own “singing milkman”, enjoyed a showbiz career of more than 50 years.

The video, which Jimmy put on social media, features him, Frankie and others as binmen who perform a dance routine around the bins.

The funny clip ends with them running after the bin lorry which has driven off without them!

Jimmy posted: “Hi folks, here’s a tribute to my great friend Frankie Whittle R.I.P.

“We first worked together as Redcoats in Butlin’s in the summer of 1968.

“Frankie went on to become an actor/panto dame and singer/compere at The Music Hall Tavern in Blackpool.

“My thoughts are with his sister Carol.”

Watch the video by clicking on the arrow in the image below.

Also read from this website: Butlin’s reunion from the 1960s

Frankie’s Redcoat Memories

Iconic art deco Blackpool building up for auction today for £950k

From the archives: Jimmy the Butlin’s camp comic! 150 150 mhamer

From the archives: Jimmy the Butlin’s camp comic!

Jimmy Cricket

Here’s a treat for you from Jimmy’s past – a photo of him as a Butlin’s Redcoat in the late 60s.

Jimmy says: “It was 1967 and I was a Redcoat at Butlin’s in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

“The entertainment manager was a man called Bill Martin.

“He’d been a comedian in twice-nightly variety, which meant he toured in theatres up and down the country in the late 40s and early 50s.

“He had a wealth of experience and he took me under his wing.

“He made me the camp comic, which meant I was relieved of official duties and could dress up in silly clothes and gatecrash The Knobbly Knees contest and The Glamorous Grandmother Competition.

“In the enclosed photo, I’ve managed to talk a fellow Redcoat into climbing into a gorilla costume and I walked him round the camp with a lead having photographs taken.

“Happy Days!”

* * Thanks to Neil Whitfield for sending this photo to Jimmy.