‘Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie’
Jimmy Cricket relived his wedding day 40 years on in his latest column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post.
The famous entertainer is headlining Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Charter Theatre in Preston – where he made his pantomime debut in 1981 – over the Christmas and New Year period.
When the Lancashire Evening Post contacted Jimmy through his website editor Martin Hamer – former digital editor at the LEP – about the idea of a monthly feature in the run-up to the panto, he thought it was a “very flattering request”.
And his most recent column recalls the happy memories from 1974 – and how he celebrated his ruby anniversary.
Jimmy also talks about the pantomime, which will be directed by Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies who found fame in the 1960s on Opportunity Knocks when it was watched by an astonishing 20 million people.
“Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie,” laughs Jimmy in his column.
Jimmy Cricket was asked to perform TWICE at this year’s Crawley Irish Festival.
They got married at St Joseph’s Catholic church in Bury on 25 September 1974 (photo right) and, 40 years and three days later, they renewed their vows at St Mary’s, Sabden in East Lancashire (below left).
Joining both Jimmy and May for their special day of celebrations were all four of their children: Dale, Frankie, Jamie and Katie.
Jimmy (below) and his wife, May, (right) – who performed as the female vocalist May Marion – can both be seen in their dressing rooms getting ready for the show.
And it was undoubtedly the famous comedian himself who delivered his popular and timeless brand of stand-up to an appreciative audience.