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Johnny Casson

And the latest Golden Wellie winner is… 150 150 mhamer

And the latest Golden Wellie winner is…

Jimmy Cricket’s latest Golden Wellington award has been presented to Danny Tujeshyn, who manages the restaurant at the Royal Toby Hotel in Castleton, Rochdale.

The famous entertainer decided to recognise the great hospitality and service Danny has provided to all who have been to the restaurant over the years, and also for all the assistance he has provided in helping the venue to host the Wooden Hut Club.

The club – of which Jimmy is a member – is a regular lunchtime get-together for the show business fraternity in the north of England.

Jimmy Cricket with Royal Toby manager Danny Tujeshyn

As Jimmy is a founding member, it just happened the club started meeting at the Royal Toby because of its proximity to the M62 motorway.

From its first convening several years ago, the club continues to meet at least six times a year at the Royal Toby restaurant and for its Christmas gathering it puts on a festive show for the elderly population of Rochdale.

Over the years, these lunchtime get togethers have featured notable performers such as Bernie Clifton, Graham Grumbleweed, Johnny Casson, Smug Roberts, John Henshall, Arthur Bostrom, Buzz Hawkins, Fred Fielder, Freddy ‘Parrot Face’ Davies and many more.

The latest club gathering was during the afternoon of Tuesday 21 October and Jimmy used the opportunity to thank in front of club members Danny’s contribution in helping to organise these luncheon events.

He also awarded Danny with the October Golden Wellington award (picture above).

Jimmy said: “I have been going to the Royal Toby restaurant for years, ever since I moved into Rochdale in the mid 1970s.

“It is my favourite restaurant because I am a fan of good food and good service. A lot of the latter has been down to how the restaurant has been run over the years and Danny has been a tremendous manager.

“When we started these Wooden Hut Club lunches several years ago, Danny was happy to host them – to the point where club members view the restaurant as its official home, even though we now have guests travelling over from as far as Chesterfield and Chester.

“This means there is no push to move the luncheon club to a venue in Manchester or Leeds as Danny always makes us feel very welcome and can be spotted wearing one of our Wooden Hut club badges!”

Fergie favourite is latest Wellie winner 150 150 mhamer

Fergie favourite is latest Wellie winner

One of Sir Alex Ferguson’s favourite entertainers has won Jimmy Cricket’s latest Golden Wellington award.

Eric Devereaux has had a stellar career as a compere and male vocalist, his notable stints during the cabaret heyday of the 60s and 70s including being a host at iconic venues such as Cadishead Conservative club  in Salford.

Jimmy Cricket presents Eric Devereaux with the golden Wellington award

Jimmy presents Eric with the Welly award

He was good friends with Hughie Green – the legendary presenter of Opportunity Knocks – and was well-known on the Greater Manchester club circuit, with close ties to comedian Bernard Manning and impressionist Mike Yarwood among others.

Eric continues to be one of the favourite performers of Sir Alex, to the point where he has become an annual fixture for the former Manchester United manager’s birthday celebrations each year.

He moved to Norden in Rochdale to retire a few years ago, having been based for most of his life in Failsworth.

Rochdale-based comedian Jimmy presented the June Golden Welly award to Eric for a lifetime in showbusiness during one of  jam night concerts which he arranges every other month at St Vincent’s RC Parish Centre in Norden.

Eric is also one of the organisers of an informal northern network of performers who get together periodically to socialise over lunch at the Royal Toby restaurant in Castleton, Rochdale.

The network, known as the Wooden Hut club, has over the past five years attracted the likes of Jimmy, Buzz Hawkins, Smug Roberts, Bernie Clifton, Arthur Bostrum, Freddy ‘Parrot face’ Davies, Johnny Casson, Andy Prior, Graham Grumbleweed and many more notable entertainers.

Jimmy said: “Eric is so deserving of a recognition of his talents and of the wonderful career in showbusiness he’s had over the years.

“I just wanted to acknowledge this in my own way. In fact, the award was only a small part of the evening and the main focus was an interview I conducted with Eric that lasted the entire second half of the concert!

“This chat was a tremendous trip down memory lane. Everyone present was just amazed at the stories Eric told and also wowed by the photos he brought along to prove what a remarkable life story he has and continues to have.”

Slideshow tribute to ‘comedian’s comedian’ 150 150 mhamer

Slideshow tribute to ‘comedian’s comedian’
Johnny Casson enjoys his own memories of Norman Collier

Johnnie Casson enjoys his own memories of Norman Collier. Pictures courtesy of OlsenParker photography

Jimmy Cricket was among several top entertainers who paid their last respects to legendary comedian Norman Collier in a special tribute show.

The event, called An evening of Comedy and Laughter, took place at the New Theatre in Hull in September.

It included Northern Irish funnyman Jimmy plus fellow stars Tom O’ Connor, Syd Little (of Little and Large), ventriloquist Roger De Courcey (plus Nookie Bear), Johnnie Casson and Robin Grumbleweed.

Norman, who died in March this year aged 87, was born and bred in Hull and for most of his life lived in the nearby town of Brough.

He achieved popularity following television appearances in the 1970s and was best known for his ‘faulty microphone’ routine and his chicken impressions.

Norman was highly regarded by many fellow comics, including Frank Carson and Les Dawson, and was described by Jimmy Tarbuck as ‘the comedian’s comedian’.

Read more about Norman here.

The show was hosted by Norman’s son-in-law, John Ainsley, who was also the main organiser of the event.

Jimmy Cricket pays tribute to Norman Collier

Jimmy pays tribute

Jimmy Cricket said: “Suffice to say the theatre was packed to the rafters and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

“A sizeable amount of money was raised which will be given to Norman’s widow, Lucy.”

Enjoy some nostalgia and watch Jimmy and Norman performing a chicken sketch together.

All pictures in the slideshow below are courtesy of OlsenParker photography which is based in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Tribute to the late, great Norman Collier 150 150 mhamer

Tribute to the late, great Norman Collier

Poster advertising the tribute show to the late comedian Norman CollierJimmy Cricket is among a host of comedy greats paying tribute to the legendary Norman Collier on Monday night (16 September).

The show, An Evening of Comedy & Laughter to celebrate the life of Norman Collier, takes place at the New Theatre, Kingston Square, in Hull.

The comedian, who died in March this year aged 87, was born and bred in Hull and for most of his life lived in the nearby town of Brough.

He achieved popularity following television appearances in the 1970s. He was best known for his ‘faulty microphone’ routine and for his chicken impressions. Read more about him here.

This memorial event has been put together by John Ainslie, Norman’s son-in-law, and the line-up of entertainers taking part in the show includes comedians Tom O’Connor and Johnnie Casson, comic duo Little and Large, and ventriloquist Roger De Courcey with Nookie Bear.

Jimmy said: “Such a line-up is a really fitting tribute to Norman Collier, who was one of the nation’s finest comedians and who especially had a great talent for visual comedy.”

Enjoy some nostalgia and watch Jimmy and Norman performing a chicken sketch together.