Posts Tagged :

charity

‘The consummate showman’ 150 150 mhamer

‘The consummate showman’

Review of Jimmy Cricket and May Marion from 4 February at the Clwyd Theatre Cymru in Mold, Flintshire, North Wales

Jimmy and May appeared at the Clwyd Theatre Cymru in Mold, North Wales

“Jimmy’s 40-plus years in the business shone through, endorsing him, if endorsement was needed, as the consummate showman.”

Comedian Jimmy Cricket received a magnificent reception and much acclaim when he appeared at the Clwyd Theatre Cymru in Mold, Flintshire, North Wales, with his wife, singer May Marion.

Above is a review from The Evening Leader newspaper which enthused: “The audience left delighted and Mold Methodist Church was better off to the tune of £1,600 towards its renovation plans.”

Joined on stage by a local councillor 150 150 mhamer

Joined on stage by a local councillor

Comedian Jimmy Cricket with sisters Katie and Rebecca who attended his show at St Joseph's Parish Centre in Heywood

Jimmy Cricket with sisters Katie and Rebecca who attended his show at St Joseph's Parish Centre in Heywood

Rochdale comedian Jimmy Cricket was joined on stage by a local councillor at a recent charity show.

The Irish funnyman was performing at St Joseph’s Centre in Heywood to help raise money for the Roman Catholic parish.

Counc Peter Rush, who represents the Heywood North ward and ran the town’s Albany Hotel on Rochdale Road East for a long time, went on stage to join Jimmy and his wife May and their good friend Eric Devereaux, a well-known singer on the North West entertainment scene.

Jimmy also had his picture taken alongside sisters Katie and Rebecca who were in the audience.

Their mum Nicola told Jimmy: “We had an amazing time on Friday night at St Joseph’s. We hope that you will come again very soon to do another show. Take care and keep entertaining.”

Francis House says thanks 150 150 mhamer

Francis House says thanks

Pictured, from left: David Ireland from Francis House, comedian Jimmy Cricket, David Martin,executive director of the Coliseum theatre, and the show’s producer, Jim Nicholas

Pictured, from left: David Ireland from Francis House, comedian Jimmy Cricket, David Martin,executive director of the Coliseum theatre, and the show’s producer, Jim Nicholas

The organisers of a charity event at the Coliseum in Oldham earlier this year returned to say thank-you to the theatre for hosting the show which was a huge success.

Jimmy Cricket helped to raise more than £6,000 for a Manchester-based charity at the two-night extravaganza in October.

The famous Irish comedian appeared in the “Stars Come Out”, along with husband and wife comedy duo The Krankies and sixties Merseybeat band The Swinging Blue Jeans, of “You’re no Good” and the “Hippy Hippy Shake” fame. The show also featured the Dobcross Youth Band.

An extra night was added after the originally-planned one-day performance was sold out.

The money from the shows went to Francis House Children’s Hospice, which is based at Didsbury in Manchester. The Hospice cares for children and young adults with life-threatening conditions and provides a home from home where families can receive professional care, support and friendship.

The charity’s director, David Ireland, also participated in the recent thank-you visit, along with Jimmy Cricket who said: “The show was a resounding success and raised buckets-full of cash for the charity.

“This was the fourth edition of the show and it continues to be really well-supported. The money raised will enable the Francis House Children’s Hospice to be able to continue the important work they do of caring for the region’s very sick children.”

“I hope the show can return for number five in the spring of 2013!”

Warm welcome at the inn 150 150 mhamer

Warm welcome at the inn

Jimmy with Phil, owner of the Old Bell Inn in Delph, Saddleworth

Jimmy with Phil Whiteman, owner of the Old Bell Inn in Delph, Saddleworth

Jimmy Cricket visited the the Old Bell Inn in Delph, Saddleworth, after an invitation from the Director of the Francis House Children’s Hospice, David Ireland.

The occasion was a “thank-you” meal for the comedian’s efforts in a recent fundraiser for the Hospice, organised at the Coliseum Theatre in Oldham in October.

The show also featured the Krankies and the Swinging Blue Jeans. The total raised from the show was in the region of £6,000 for the charity.

One of the sponsors of the show was the Old Bell Inn which generously supplied a number of bedrooms for the visiting band members of the Swinging Blue Jeans as part of their sponsorship.

Jimmy spoke to the Swinging Blue Jeans after their stay at the inn and they said they were very impressed with the hospitality provided.

Phil and some friends attended the second performance of the show at the Oldham Coliseum and afterwards he mentioned that he had thoroughly enjoyed himself. He is a great supporter of Francis House and recently hosted a wine-tasting evening at the Old Bell Inn to also raise money for the charity.

Jimmy said he enjoyed his meal at the Old Bell Inn and readily recommends the restaurant to anyone passing through the Saddleworth area.

A thank-you from the past 150 150 mhamer

A thank-you from the past

Pictures from the past

Jimmy Cricket is getting a big thank-you from a charity – three decades later.

The recognition comes after Jimmy appeared in the Hippodrome Theatre’s Pantomime with famous Liverpool entertainer Cilla Black back in the mid-1980s.

He recently received the following email from Matt Adams: “We are holding another charity event in aid of the Young Venturers on December 10th at the Hall Green Conservative Club, Birmingham. These nights raises enough funds to enable us to take a group of disabled children to the Pantomime in Birmingham.

“My parents, who has been raising funds for this charity for over 40 years, write to the stars of the show and asks them if they would be kind enough to spend a few minutes after the show to meet the children.

“We plan to project photos taken from the last 40+ years on the 12ft screen at the club, and whilst going through a few of the photos, I found a few of Jimmy from way back. This photo along with countless others will be projected on the night with a ‘thank you’ message.

“As my Dad always says ‘time is the most important thing you can give to anyone’ and the time Jimmy spent with ‘our’ children certainly made their night.

“I would therefore be grateful if you could thank Jimmy on behalf of us for all the smiles he has made!”

Church doubles up as a social centre 150 150 mhamer

Church doubles up as a social centre

Jimmy with Sister Joy, Tony and Fr Peter from the Blessed Cardinal Newman parish in Latchford, Warrington

Jimmy with Sister Joy, Tony and Fr Peter from the Blessed Cardinal Newman parish in Latchford, Warrington

Jimmy Cricket’s fund-raising autumn tour of Roman Catholic parish centres included a church which doubles up as a social club.

In addition to all his other charity work, the Irish comedian raises money for the Francis House Children’s Hospice with Jim Nicholas – who brings his Cliff’s Disco outfit along as support – alongside Jimmy’s wife May Marion, who adds some vocal sparkles.

The tour featured the Blessed Cardinal Newman parish in Latchford, Warrington. The event took place in the main church, which is also the main social centre when partitions are brought in to close off the altar.

It was hugely successful and more than £2,000 was raised.

Special show at the mayor’s request 150 150 mhamer

Special show at the mayor’s request

Jimmy Cricket at the charity show with Northwich Mayor Alison Gerrard and friend

Jimmy Cricket at the charity show with Northwich Mayor Alison Gerrard and friend

Jimmy Cricket has made a special charity appearance in Northwich at the special request of the town’s lady mayor.

Councillor Alison Gerrard asked the famous Irish comedian to appear at the Castle Private Club in Cheshire to help raise money for the Mayor’s Charity Fund.

The DJ on the day was David Cantona Lee whose mother is English and his father is Chinese, prompting Jimmy to joke: “We both are thinking of going into the catering business together – he is opening up a Chinese takeway and next door I am opening up an Irish bring it back!”

Jimmy had appeared at the Brookfield Golf Club near Crewe at the start of the summer and cllr Gerrard was at that show. However, she missed Jimmy’s performance as she accidentally tripped over and fell down some stairs before Jimmy got on stage!

However, after recovering from the accident she was desperate to see Jimmy’s act and so she asked him to perform at her fund-raising event.