Jimmy Cricket’s tribute to the late Archie Taylor
Jimmy Cricket has been paying tribute to a great friend and musician.
It follows the death of Archie Taylor in a boating accident.
Jimmy, 71, said: “When my friend Graham Helms – the conductor of the 2nd Rossendale Scout Band – rang to tell me that our mutual friend, Archie Taylor (pictured right), had tragically died when his boat capsized in mid-wales over the Easter holidays, I was deeply saddened.
“Archie was 90 years old, but had the energy and drive of somebody half that age. He was also one of the best saxophonists I’ve ever heard. When Graham and I decided to do some charity fundraising gigs, Graham had the wonderful idea of having an eight-piece swing section and he labelled it the Swinging Crickets.
“So there I’d be crooning my socks off, with the boys behind me going at full throttle and Archie blowing up a storm. Needless to say we raised a few bob for charity from these concerts and we all had a great time!
“My thoughts go out to his family at this sad time.”
The fund-raising gala dinner evening was organised by Pauline’s widower, Graham Helm (pictured below with Jimmy), and was held in one of the club’s main function suites, which was packed to the rafters with almost 450 people there.
Famous Northern Irish comedian Jimmy said: “The evening raised a magnificent £10,000 in total and this achieved figure was a richly deserved outcome for Graham after all of his efforts over a number of months in the lead-up to the event.”
Jimmy Cricket has been asked to be part of a special charity event in May next year.