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Fun run plans get media coverage 150 150 mhamer

Fun run plans get media coverage

Jimmy Cricket's plans for a fun run were featured in the Rochdale Observer newspaper

Jimmy Cricket’s plans to stage a special fun run to mark his 70th birthday have received coverage in his local newspaper.

The Rochdale Observer published the above report and picture on the race, which will take place on 18 October 2015 – the day after the well-known entertainer turns 70.

The Belfast-born comedian was approached by Rochdale-based fundraiser Andy O’Sullivan about the prospect of a birthday race.

Andy has been organising charity runs with the local Rochdale Harriers athletics club for many years.

The location of the start will be the Cock & Magpie pub in Whitworth, near Jimmy’s beloved Healey Dell Nature Reserve where he is often spotted walking and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

All proceeds from the fun run will be donated to one of Jimmy’s favourite charities, which is the Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester.

The entry fee to join Jimmy on this fun race is £4 to club runners and £6 to all others. An additional £1 will be charged to entrants who turn up on the day. Prizes will be awarded to all race finishers.

For more information and for a copy of the entry form, please contact Andy O’Sullivan at info@andemsrunners.co.uk

Fun run to mark Jimmy’s 70th birthday 150 150 mhamer

Fun run to mark Jimmy’s 70th birthday

Jimmy Cricket's fun run will take place in October 2015Legendary comedian Jimmy Cricket will celebrate his 70th birthday next year with a special fun run in his adopted hometown of Rochdale.

The Belfast-born entertainer was approached by Rochdale-based fundraiser Andy O’Sullivan about the prospect of a birthday race. Andy has been organising charity runs with the local Rochdale Harriers athletics club for many years.

Jimmy will turn 70 on 17 October 2015 and his birthday race will take place the following day.

The location of the start on Sunday, 18 October will be the Cock & Magpie pub in Whitworth, near Jimmy’s beloved Healey Dell Nature Reserve where he is often spotted walking and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

He will be there in person to start the race off at 11.30am, with the route planned to take in two laps of Cowm Reservoir, ensuring the race will be a true 5K.

After the race Jimmy will also be on hand to present the prizes and perhaps offer a slice of birthday cake too!

All proceeds from the fun run will be donated to one of Jimmy’s favourite charities which is the Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester.

Race organiser Andy O’Sullivan said: “I recently bumped into Jimmy in Healey Dell and we got chatting about what he is up to. When he mentioned that next year was his 70th birthday, I thought ‘why not mark this with a specially arranged birthday race?'”

“The idea of the race came to me as Jimmy is such a well-known person and has contributed so much to local Rochdale life over the years.”

Jimmy said: “I am honoured this race is going to be organised for my 70th birthday. I was wondering how I could celebrate the arrival of this milestone in some way and this race will be a wonderful occasion.

“It will be quite a spectacular route for all who want to participate. But I am also hoping my many Rochdale friends will come along and spectate to enable the event to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause as Francis House.”

The entry fee to join Jimmy on this fun race is £4 to club runners and £6 to all others. An additional £1 will be charged to entrants who turn up on the day. Prizes will be awarded to all race finishers.

For more information and for a copy of the entry form, please contact Andy O’Sullivan at info@andemsrunners.co.uk

Returning to 2012 summer season venue 150 150 mhamer

Returning to 2012 summer season venue

Eastbourne Herald article featuring Jimmy Cricket's return to the Royal Hippodrome TheatreJimmy Cricket is returning to the scene of his 2012 summer season to do his stand-up comedy show at the weekend.

The famous Irish entertainer will perform at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne on Saturday (20 September), two years after his last appearance there.

He was featured earlier this month in the Eastbourne Herald (article clipping above), which read: “This entertainer never stops updating and creating new material.”

The newspaper mentions that Jimmy has just released a song, I was bit by Luis Suarez, which is based on the former Liverpool striker who was banned for four months during this summer’s World Cup for biting an opponent.

Jimmy said: “I am looking forward to seeing the many friends I made during that summer season.

“In fact, these friends have gone on to form a community interest company to manage the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, as the local council were looking for someone to take on this role for them.”

They include Jerome and Carole who own and run the Marine Parade Hotel and Darren Weir who owns the Mowbray Hotel.

Another friend Jimmy will be seeing again is Mike Lee, who is also a partner in the management consortium.

Jimmy said: “Mike is a superb singer who performs a tribute to the great Matt Munroe. I have invited him to appear on my show and am delighted he has agreed!”

To watch the video of I was bit by Luis Suarez, go to the homepage of this website or visit Jimmy’s video channel at YouTube.

And you can pre-order I was bit by Luis Suarez at iTunes.

For all the latest updates on the song and on Jimmy’s schedule and thoughts, go to his Twitter page.

Another Redcoats reunion for Jimmy 150 150 mhamer

Another Redcoats reunion for Jimmy

Jimmy with some other former Butlins Redcoats

Jimmy Cricket had his latest Butlins Redcoat reunion when he was appearing at a Pontins holiday village earlier this summer.

Jimmy Cricket with Paul Ogden, another former Butlins Redcoat

The well-known comedian worked as a Redcoat at the Butlins sites in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, and Mosney near Dublin in Ireland during the late 1960s before becoming a household name on television.

He has met up with some of his old colleagues during the decades since then and this was actually the second time he had encountered this particular group of fellow former Redcoats – he also bumped into them the last time he was at Sand Bay Holiday Park in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, a couple of years ago!

The photos are courtesy of Paul Ogden, with whom Jimmy can be seen right.

Above, Jimmy has actually managed to borrow a red coat from one of the group and is pictured alongside them all sharing some comedy banter.

* Redcoat is the name given to front-line staff at Butlins holiday camps in the UK. A Redcoat has duties ranging from adult entertainer or children’s entertainer to stewarding. Read more about them here.

‘Thrilled’ to help a special group of people 150 150 mhamer

‘Thrilled’ to help a special group of people

Jimmy Cricket with two local carers, the acting chief executive of Rochdale council – Linda Fisher - and councillor Billy Shearin

Jimmy Cricket popped in to see a special group of people in the town where he has lived for more than 40 years.

The famous entertainer was invited to an event during Carers week 2014 at the new council office block called Number One Riverside in Rochdale.

Jimmy was asked to attend by his good friend Pauline Fardon, who, along with her husband, are carers and both participate in the local carers choir.

“It was an enjoyable experience. I was thrilled to lend a hand in continuing to maintain an awareness of the wonderful work that this group of individuals do for their loved ones,” said Jimmy.

Pictured with Jimmy are two local carers, the acting chief executive of Rochdale council – Linda Fisher – and councillor Billy Shearin, who was present as the assistant portfolio holder for adult social care.

Hello again to Hunstanton! 150 150 mhamer

Hello again to Hunstanton!

Jimmy Cricket is back next month at the venue where he spent the majority of the 2013 summer season.

The famous comedian returns to the Princess Theatre in the seaside resort of Hunstanton in Norfolk on Sunday 3 August.

A photo (below right) was posted on Twitter by the owners of Café Blah Blahh in Hunstanton to coincide with a  promotional push to publicise the show.

Owners of Café Blah Blahh posted a photo publicising Jimmy Cricket's return to Hunstanton

Jimmy was in the West Norfolk resort for most of last summer, as he starred in the Great British Seaside Summer show.

During his time in Hunstanton, Jimmy had a fantastic stay and earned the affection of the local community.

This included him touching base with a number of local businesses, including the Wash Monster boat ride operator; Hunstanton’s sealife centre; the Marine Hotel (where he stayed for the duration of the season) and Café Blah Blahh to name only a few.

Jimmy said: “I can’t wait to return to the Princess Theatre in this idyllic resort and hope to bump into a few familiar faces when I land there again in August.”

A door from Saudi Arabia – in Chipping Sodbury! 150 150 mhamer

A door from Saudi Arabia – in Chipping Sodbury!
Jimmy Cricket with the Moda House Hotel owners, Jo and Duncan, in front of the door from Saudi Arabia

Jimmy with hotel owners Jo & Duncan in front of the Saudi Arabian door

Jimmy Cricket encountered an unusual hotel door during his stay in south  Gloucestershire for the 2014 Chipping Sodbury Festival.

Promotional flyer for the 2014 Chipping Sodbury Festival

The famous entertainer was one of the featured performers for this year’s festival at Chipping Sodbury’s impressive Town Hall.

The organisers of the festival also arranged for Jimmy and his wife, May, to stay overnight at the nearby Moda House Hotel on the High Street in the market town.

Hotel owners Jo and Duncan have a door which is their pride and joy because it has been shipped over from Saudi Arabia. In fact, it cost more for the door to be shipped over to England than for the item itself!

So why the fascination with this attractive feature located within the hotel dining room? Well, Duncan was a hotel manager in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, so the door is a keepsake for both him and his wife to remember their time in the country.