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greater manchester

The summer of 2006 150 150 mhamer

The summer of 2006

Jimmy Cricket with Tracy Hudson and Sue

This picture of Jimmy Cricket was taken at the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton–on-Sea during the summer season of 2006.

The famous entertainer is shown alongside audience member Tracy Hudson and also Sue who was one of the theatre’s ushers.

Tracy is a big fan of Jimmy and regularly watches archive footage on his YouTube channel.
Jimmy said: “Tracy is not currently in the best of health, but I wish her a very speedy recovery so she can get to one of my live shows in the future.”
Walkabout with the Lamplighters 150 150 mhamer

Walkabout with the Lamplighters

Jimmy Cricket and the Lamplighters

Jimmy Cricket teamed up with a musician he has known for more than  40 years when he promoted a show in Stockport earlier this year.

The famous entertainer thought a walkabout would be a good way of publicising his forthcoming visit to Stockport’s Plaza Theatre at the end of January.

Jimmy Cricket and the Lamplighters

Armed with his much-loved saxophone, he decided he would join his friends, the busking outfit called the Lamplighters, and walk from the pub called The Swan With Two Necks in central Stockport.

They went along Mersey Square in front of the main entrance to the Merseyway Shopping Centre, and then on to the theatre itself.

The Lamplighters are in fact the Walker brothers – Cyril (on the accordion) and Ivor, commonly known as Mack (on the drum).
Jimmy has known Cyril for a very long time – it was he who helped the Northern Irish comedian to get established on the North of England club circuit when he first set out on the road to showbusiness back in the early 1970s.
At that time Cyril was part of a double act called Clayton and Walker who were already touring around the entertainment venues in the North.
Jimmy said: “The parade through Stockport was a nice bit of fun. It also certainly made an impact, as when I returned to the Plaza I had a very healthy crowd in attendance who all had a great time watching my stand-up show!”
Here’s to the next 30 years! 150 150 mhamer

Here’s to the next 30 years!
Jimmy Cricket with Darren and Neil from the Morton Arms, Towyn, North Wales

Jimmy with Darren and Neil at the Morton Arms, Towyn, North Wales

A North Wales pub where Jimmy Cricket has enjoyed performing over the years is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2014.

The above photograph, which was published on Facebook, was taken in 2001 and features Jimmy alongside Darren Howells and Neil from the Morton Arms, Towyn  in North Wales.

Famous funnyman Jimmy was appearing at this venue at the time the photo was taken and this year the venue celebrates 30 years since it was opened.

He last appeared at the Morton Arms a couple of years ago and that latest visit was again organised by local entertainment entrepreneur Darren Howells.

In fact, every time Jimmy has appeared at the Morton Arms he has had a tremendous reception from the locals based in the Abergele region.

Jimmy said: “I wish everyone at the pub a happy 30th anniversary and another 30 years of success. I also hope to bump into my old friend Darren Howells at some point in the near future.”

Warm welcome on a cold afternoon 150 150 mhamer

Warm welcome on a cold afternoon
Jimmy Cricket with Annette Logan

Jimmy with Annette during his walkabout in Stockport

Jimmy Cricket received a warm welcome on a cold January day when he went for a  walkabout in Stockport town centre a few weeks ago.

Jimmy Cricket with Martin Logan

Jimmy with Martin

The well-known entertainer thought it would be a good way of promoting his forthcoming visit to Stockport’s Plaza Theatre.

Armed with his much-loved saxophone, he decided he would join his friends, the busking outfit called the Lamplighters, and walk from the pub called The Swan With Two Necks in central Stockport.

They went along Mersey Square in front of the main entrance to the Merseyway Shopping Centre, and then on to the theatre itself.

jimmy_cricket_darrenDuring the journey Jimmy bumped into lots of different faces, who greeted him with not only great surprise, but full of warmth as well.

This was really welcomed by Jimmy as it was, after all, a cold January afternoon!

Among the many pleasant people he met during the walk included Martin and Annette Logan (photos above and right) and Darren Healey (left).

Festive Liz gets Wellie award 150 150 mhamer

Festive Liz gets Wellie award

Jimmy Cricket with marketing manager Liz CooperA lady who gave Jimmy Cricket and his panto colleagues a great Christmas send-off is the January winner of the Golden Wellie award.

Liz Cooper is the marking manager at the Forum Theatre in Billingham where the famous Northern Irish entertainer appeared in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs over the festive period.

Jimmy said: “Liz went above the call of duty on Christmas Eve and decorated with festive trimmings the dressings rooms occupied by the cast of the pantomime. She was ably abetted in this feat by her daughter.

“In 25 years of doing pantos across the UK, this is the first time that I have encountered the theatre’s staff going to the length of ensuring the cast have a Christmas send-off  and this special gesture certainly got everyone into the Christmas spirit.”

Jimmy, whose festively decorated panto dressing room is pictured below, was so impressed and grateful for what Liz had done that he wanted to acknowledge her efforts by awarding her the Golden Wellington (above).

Jimmy Cricket's panto dressing room

Charity efforts earn PCSO special award 150 150 mhamer

Charity efforts earn PCSO special award

Janet, Jim, Jimmy Cricket and AndreaA Greater Manchester police community support officer is the latest winner of Jimmy Cricket’s Golden Wellie award.

Janet (pictured on the left in the photo above with Jimmy and his good friend Jim Nicholas) recently organised a charity event for the Francis House Children’s Club at the Hough End Police Club in South Manchester.

The other lady in the photo is Andrea who works for Barclays Bank; she had arranged for her organisation to match the money raised by Janet pound for pound.

Rochdale-based entertainer Jimmy said: “PCSO Janet went to a magnificent effort in organising this event; she not only sold tickets around her beat in Swinton in Salford, but placed adverts throughout all the police stations of Manchester!

“The event raised around £1,500, and for her fine efforts and determination to make this event a success, I presented PCSO Janet with this Golden Wellie award.”

‘Hit for six by star comic’s latest reinvention’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Hit for six by star comic’s latest reinvention’

South Wales Argus article about Jimmy Cricket

Jimmy Cricket and his wellies had them laughing in the Valleys recently.

The famous Irish comedian performed at Pontypool Park in Pontypool, south Wales, in mid-August.

A feature all about Jimmy and his successful showbiz career appeared in the South Wales Argus a week before the show.

The newspaper article began… If you were a keen viewer of comedy sketch shows in the 1980s, the name Jimmy Cricket stirs up many a comical image.

Remembered for reading humorous letters from his “mammy” while sporting an out-of-shape hat, a dinner jacket matched with a pair of cut-off evening trousers and a trademark pair of wrongly matched wellies clearly marked “L” and “R”, Jimmy was loved by young and old alike for his numerous TV and radio appearances.

The Irish-born comedian’s training ground stretches back to the 1960s when he was a redcoat in Butlins holiday camps organising everything from darts matches to hula-hoop contests.

“Looking back, it’s like what young people do for these performance degrees,” he says.

“I suppose the holiday camps were a bit like that because you learned how to project to the back of the theatre and to put stage make up on. It held me in great stead for pantomime and things like that…”