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Prince Charles

LEP column was epitaph to the ‘wonderful’ Vera Lynn 150 150 mhamer

LEP column was epitaph to the ‘wonderful’ Vera Lynn

Hi folks! I had no idea when I wrote this May @leponline column it would be as an epitaph to this wonderful performer and humanitarian. R.I.P. our Vera!

Jimmy Cricket’s latest newspaper column was devoted to Dame Vera Lynn – just weeks before she died.

Dame Vera passed away on Thursday (18 June) aged 103.

She was known the Forces’ Sweetheart, whose songs helped raise morale in World War Two.

The Queen, Prince Charles and Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney were among those to pay their respects to her.

People knew her best for her wartime anthem We’ll Meet Again.

Jimmy’s column in the Preston-based Lancashire Post on 18 May (above) was all about Dame Vera.

The headline read: Remembering the forces’ WWII sweetheart Vera Lynn.

He tweeted on the day she died: “Hi folks! I had no idea when I wrote this May@leponline column it would be as an epitaph to this wonderful performer and humanitarian.
“R.I.P. our Vera! Performing arts

The BBC reported: “Six weeks ago, ahead of the 75th anniversary of VE Day and during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Dame Vera said simple acts of bravery and sacrifice still define our nation.

“A week later, she became the oldest artist to get a top 40 album in the UK.”

The BBC recalled that Dame Vera had sold more than a million records by the age of 22.

The article added that she “was also remembered for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover, There’ll Always Be An England, I’ll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings.

“The Queen echoed her famous WW2 anthem during a speech to Britons who were separated from families and friends during the coronavirus lockdown in April, telling the nation: ‘We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again.'”

‘Great privilege’ to be in 1984 Royal Variety Show 150 150 mhamer

‘Great privilege’ to be in 1984 Royal Variety Show

Hi folks! Nostalgic footage, the year was 1984 and I had the great privilege to be part of this great Royal Variety Show, present was the Queen Mum, Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

Jimmy Cricket has posted video of the 1984 Royal Variety Show in which he appeared.

The show took place on 19 November at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London.

Guests included the Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy, now 74, posted a link to the footage on social media.

He said: “Hi folks! Nostalgic footage, the year was 1984.

“I had the great privilege to be part of this great Royal Variety Show.”

The Queen Mum, Princess Diana and Prince Charles attended the event.

Hi folks! Nostalgic footage, the year was 1984 and I had the great privilege to be part of this great Royal Variety Show, present was the Queen Mum, Princess Diana and Prince Charles

Other performers included singer/actor Paul Nicholas (pictured above with Jimmy).

Comedians Bernie Winters and Billy Dainty also starred.

The Royal Variety Performance, a televised variety show, takes place annually.

It raises money for the Royal Variety Charity, of which Queen Elizabeth II is life patron.

Senior members of the British Royal Family attend the event.

It is a live variety show, usually staged in a London theatre.

The event consists of family entertainment, including comedy, music and magic.

The charity assists those who have worked professionally in the entertainment industry and need help.

In addition, it supports anybody who has been on the stage, in the wings, in front of a camera or behind it.

It also helps people who have worked in the support industries dedicated to entertainment.

Golden memories: Performing in front of Princess Diana

Find out more about the Royal Variety Charity on its official website

Golden Memories: Performing in front of Princess Diana 150 150 mhamer

Golden Memories: Performing in front of Princess Diana

As lockdown continues to #SaveOurNHS I have been looking at nostalgic memorabilia from over the years, all have given me a warm glow, none more than this one when I performed alongside my fellow entertainers in front of the Queen Mum, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, at a time when Variety was King!

Jimmy Cricket has worked with many great fellow entertainers in 50 years of showbusiness.

The lovable Northern Irish comedian has also performed in front of some very famous people.

Jimmy, now 74, has been reminiscing on social media about taking part in the Royal Variety Performance in 1984.

The show took place on 19 November at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London.

Royal guests were the Queen Mother, Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

Also among the performers were singer/actor Paul Nicholas and comedians Bernie Winters and Billy Dainty.

The Royal Variety Performance is a televised variety show held annually.

It raises money for the Royal Variety Charity, of which Queen Elizabeth II is life patron.

Senior members of the British Royal Family attend the event.

The evening’s performance is presented as a live variety show, usually from a theatre in London.

‘Warm glow’

It consists of family entertainment, including comedy, music, dance, magic and other specialty acts.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Jimmy is unable to do live shows at venues.

However, he has been telling jokes via video on his social media accounts, including Facebook.

Additionally, he has been dipping into the archives and posted the images above and below on social media.

He added: “As lockdown continues to #SaveOurNHS I have been looking at nostalgic memorabilia from over the years.

“All have given me a warm glow. None more than this one.

“I performed alongside my fellow entertainers in front of the Queen Mum, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, at a time when Variety was King! ????”

Golden memories: The Osmonds

If you have any special memories of celebrities with whom Jimmy has performed or would simply like him to feature somebody in our series, you can:

As lockdown continues to #SaveOurNHS I have been looking at nostalgic memorabilia from over the years, all have given me a warm glow, none more than this one when I performed alongside my fellow entertainers in front of the Queen Mum, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, at a time when Variety was King!