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francis house children’s hospice

Elvis impersonator raises £200,000 for Francis House 150 150 mhamer

Elvis impersonator raises £200,000 for Francis House

DJ and Elvis Impersonator Jim Nicholas has raised an incredible £200k over 25 years by collecting at his performances

 

 

 

 

 

 

DJ and Elvis Presley impersonator Jim Nicholas has raised an amazing £200,000 over 25 years for Francis House Children’s Hospice.

Jim, who is a good friend of comedian Jimmy Cricket, has raised the funds by collecting at his performances.

Northern Irish funnyman Jimmy has also brought in a lot of money over the decades for the hospice.

Francis House is based in south Manchester.

Both entertainers feature in the latest edition of the charity’s newsletter (above).

‘Wonderful cause’

Jimmy, 74, tweeted: “Our thanks, (mine and Jim Nicholas), for the lovely article in the@FrancisHouseCH winter newsletter.

“It has been a pleasure working on behalf of your wonderful cause over the years!”

His pal Jim says in the newsletter: “From day one when I first went to Francis House and saw the families, I felt that I wanted to do everything I could for them.

“Without Francis House these families would be stuck.

“If I can entertain people and they enjoy what I’m doing, and if that helps in some small way, I’m happy to do it.”

Jim, who is from Swinton in Salford, Greater Manchester, is also the impresario behind Jimmy’s variety shows for Francis House.

The pair were introduced many years ago by Sister Aloysius and have remained close friends and showbiz partners ever since.

Christmas CD

The Stars Come Out for Francis House charity gala has taken place at the Oldham Coliseum eight times.

In addition, there are plans for an October 2020 performance.

A few years ago, Jimmy hit upon the idea of original Christmas numbers to sell at his shows with profits donated to Francis House.

The CD is Santa bring my wellies back to me.

The name of the CD relates to the theft several years ago of concrete wellington boots (below right).

‘Happy Christmas everyone!’

The late Sir Ken Dodd had given them to Rochdale-based Jimmy.

The wellies were given by Ken Dodd to Jimmy CricketJimmy said: “With Christmas ‘19 beckoning my goal is to reach 2,000 copies and that would mean we’ve raised £10,000 for Francis House.

“A big thank you to those of you who’ve bought one and a Happy Christmas everyone!”

Francis House said: “Help Jimmy reach his goal of selling 2,000 copies to raise £10,000!

“‘Santa Bring My Wellies Back To Me’ can be purchased for £5 plus £1.95 p&p from Francis House by calling 0161 443 2200.

“Or go to www.francishouse.org.uk/getinvolved/shop/online-shop/”

You can also buy the CD here at Jimmy’s own website.

And there’s more… there’s a special Christmas offer on at present from Jimmy!

Christmas ‘jam’ night benefits Francis House 150 150 mhamer

Christmas ‘jam’ night benefits Francis House

Great night at the Christmas Jam night at St Vincent’s Parish Hall with Jonathan Young, Mrs C. and our friend Moureen, with help from Kath on tea’s and coffee’s and Pauline who organised the raffle for @FrancisHouseCH

One of Jimmy Cricket’s favourite charities benefited from the famous funnyman’s Christmas ‘jam’ night.

The event, hosted by the popular Northern Irish entertainer and his wife May Marion every couple of months, takes place in the lounge area of St Vincent’s parish centre in his home town of Rochdale.

It started about a decade ago as an opportunity for Jimmy and other performers to try out new routines and is still going strong.

As a result, the famous entertainer has nicknamed those who regularly support these evenings as ‘Jimmy’s Jammers’.

At every event,  there is a raffle and the selling of refreshments, with all proceeds donated to a chosen charity.

Francis House Children’s Hospice, based in south Manchester, was the beneficiary of the Christmas ‘jam’ night on Tuesday (3 December).

Jonathan Young from The Bachelors, a great friend of Jimmy’s, also appeared at the event.

Jimmy, 74, tweeted: “Great night at the Christmas Jam night at St Vincent’s Parish Hall with Jonathan Young, Mrs C. and our friend Moureen.

“With help from Kath on tea’s and coffee’s and Pauline who organised the raffle for @FrancisHouseCH”

The popular entertainer has raised around half-a-million pounds for the Didsbury charity over the years.
That is thanks to countless touring shows and parish hall events over almost two decades.
Care, support and friendship
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.

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
‘Elvis’ helps to raise funds at Westhoughton charity event 150 150 mhamer

‘Elvis’ helps to raise funds at Westhoughton charity event

What a wonderful atmosphere this evening at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Westhoughton with organiser Joe Roberts and all his team, who worked so hard to put the show together for @FrancisHouseCH & Macmillan Nurses! My thanks also goes to Jim Nicholas, (Elvis), and Mrs C. 🎭

An Elvis Presley impersonator helped to make a charity night involving famous comedian Jimmy Cricket a big success.
Jim Nicholas, who performs as the King of Rock and Roll, has regularly appeared with his close friend Jimmy at fund-raising events.
The latest was at a catholic parish in the town of Westhoughton in Greater Manchester.

Jimmy posted on social media: “What a wonderful atmosphere this evening at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Westhoughton with organiser Joe Roberts and all his team, who worked so hard to put the show together for @FrancisHouseCH & Macmillan Nurses! My thanks also goes to Jim Nicholas, (Elvis), and Mrs C.🎭”

The popular entertainer has raised around half-a-million pounds for south Manchester-based Francis House Children’s Hospice over the years.
That is thanks to countless touring shows and parish hall events over almost two decades.

Jim Nicholas is also a long-standing supporter of the hospice.

Opened by Princess Diana
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.

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.

Related story: Francis House: 18 years of fundraising for hospice

Read a timeline of the history of the hospice here

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

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

 

Christmas jam night in Rochdale with Maureen’s Tappers & ‘Elvis Presley’ 150 150 mhamer

Christmas jam night in Rochdale with Maureen’s Tappers & ‘Elvis Presley’

Great Festive Fun this evening at the, “St Vincent’s Jam Night”, with my fellow act Jim Nicholas and Maureen’s Tappers raising funds for #FrancisHouseCH 

Maureen’s Tappers and an Elvis Presley impersonator were among the acts at Jimmy’s Cricket’s Christmas jam night in Rochdale.

The event, hosted by the famous Northern Irish entertainer and his wife May Marion every couple of months,  takes place in the lounge area of St Vincent’s RC parish centre in his home town of Rochdale.

It started about a decade ago as an opportunity for Jimmy and other performers to try out new routines and is still going strong.

The famous entertainer has nicknamed those who regularly support these evenings as ‘Jimmy’s Jammers’.

At every event,  there is a raffle and the selling of refreshments, with all proceeds donated to a chosen charity.

Francis House Children’s Hospice, which is based in Didsbury, was the beneficiary of the December jam night.

Famous funnyman Jimmy, 73, posted on social media: “Great Festive Fun this evening at the “St Vincent’s Jam Night”, with my fellow act Jim Nicholas [aka Elvis Presley] and Maureen’s Tappers raising funds for #FrancisHouseCH ?”

 

Interviewed by cousin on Black Country Radio about Christmas CD! 150 150 mhamer

Interviewed by cousin on Black Country Radio about Christmas CD!

Jimmy CricketJimmy Cricket was interviewed on the radio by a relative recently!

The Northern Irish comedian chatted to his cousin Pat Breslin, who as well as being a professional entertainer himself, is a presenter on Black Country Radio, which broadcasts across part of the West Midlands.

Jimmy was asked about his Christmas CD,  Santa bring my wellies back to me, which first went on sale two years ago and has now sold around 1600 copies.

Jimmy posted on social media: “Was interviewed by my cousin Pat Breslin! Listen to our chat here, as we also promote my Christmas CD, with all the proceeds going to ⁦⁩

The interview with Jimmy begins at 2:05:20; towards the top of the page on the link above, press the play button (arrow pointing right) and then drag the white circle along the black band to this time.

Famous funnyman Jimmy said that when another 400 copies of the CD have been sold, it will have raised £10,000 for the hospice.

The name of the CD relates to the theft several years ago of concrete wellington boots (below right)  given to Rochdale-based Jimmy by friend and fellow comedian, the late Sir Ken Dodd. They were never recovered.

All proceeds go to Francis House Children’s Hospice which is based in south Manchester and is a favourite charity of Jimmy’s.

The wellies were given by Ken Dodd to Jimmy Cricket

  • In a special offer only for Christmas 2018,  Jimmy is offering his Christmas CD and his DVD Pull Your Seats Forward, which is based on a live performance, both for the same price (£12 including P&P) and Jimmy  will send half the money to charity.

For more details about this special offer, go here.

 

Oldham show promises a night of ‘fun & frivolity’ 150 150 mhamer

Oldham show promises a night of ‘fun & frivolity’

Jimmy Cricket is appearing at Saddleworth’s @MillgateArts Centre

Jimmy Cricket will be taking his Great Value For A Tenner show to Oldham later in the year.

All proceeds from the family show at the Millgate Arts Centre (Players Theatre) in Saddleworth on Saturday 19 May (7.30pm start) will go to Francis House Children’s Hospice, one of Jimmy’s favourite charities.

Tickets will be £10 and £5 for children.

Millgate Arts Centre is home to a thriving local arts community, providing a base for theatre, film, and chamber concert societies, as well as holding art exhibitions and being available for business or personal lettings.

The official promotion for the laughter show in May says: “The much-loved Irish comedian, Jimmy Cricket, brings his family-friendly comedy show for just a tenner to the Millgate Arts Centre.

“Jimmy will arrive equipped with one-liners galore, a sprinkling of visual comedy and, yes, that ever present letter from his mammy! This is the perfect show for granny and grandchild alike, as there will be giggles aplenty during an evening of fun and frivolity.

“On offer is a comedy master class delivered by a legendary entertainer everyone has come to know.”

Ticket information: Bookings can be made in person, by phone or online. The box office (at Delph Library) is open Tuesdays 2pm–5pm; Wednesdays  2pm–7pm; Thursdays 1pm-6pm and Fridays & Saturdays from 9.30am–1pm. The box office at Delph Library telephone number is 01457 874644. Tickets must be paid for at the time of booking, and we accept payment using all major credit and debit cards. You can select your seats at the time of booking. Tickets are non-refundable.

Book online here