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rochdale town hall

The tall Texan who saved the day in Rochdale 150 150 mhamer

The tall Texan who saved the day in Rochdale

My Feb @leponline column folks, here I tell how at the very last minute, the Texan @AndrewJBoyer with his great voice, saved the Remembrance Day Concert at the Rochdale Town Hall for me and my fellow performers, which was in aid of the Lord Mayor, Billy Sherrin's Charities!

Jimmy Cricket has recalled the story about a Texan who came to the rescue in an English town.

Let’s hear it for the wee man is a musical which Jimmy created a few years ago.
It is about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross, submariner James Magennis.
The musical was performed in front of 300 people in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal on Remembrance Day last year.
However, as Jimmy recounts in his latest Lancashire Post column, a week before the event, the singer playing the title role pulled out.
So Jimmy and wife May frantically began looking for a replacement and even put a plea out on social media channel Facebook.
And just a few days before the concert at Rochdale Town Hall, a Texan called Andrew J Boyer called them.
Andrew J Boyer will play war hero Jim Magennis in Jimmy Cricket's musical at Rochdale Town Hall on Remembrance SundayAndrew (pictured left) is a 24-year-old piano-vocalist from Dallas who had just moved to Salford.
He has been a performer for almost a decade, and sings and plays the piano from time to time on cruise ships.

The musical tells the courageous story of Magennis who joined the Royal Navy aged 15.

He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

Jimmy with Bill Sherrin, the Mayor of Rochdale

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, wrote both the words and the music for the play.

It also featured actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney and comedian Jimmy himself.

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
Remembrance Sunday musical – my thanks to all 150 150 mhamer

Remembrance Sunday musical – my thanks to all

My immense gratitude to all the cast, Jonathan Young, Sue Devaney, @AndrewJBoyer and Musical Director Steve Warburton and the Holy Family R.C. Primary School Choir! Also my thanks to Billy the Mayor and his lovely wife Lynn, and his staff, Dorothy and Naz for all their support

Jimmy Cricket expressed his gratitude to everybody involved following the staging of his war hero musical on Remembrance Sunday.

Let’s hear it for the wee man was performed at Rochdale Town Hall in aid of charity.
It told the story of Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross, the courageous submariner James Magennis.

Jimmy, 74, tweeted afterwards: “My immense gratitude to all the cast, Jonathan Young, Sue Devaney, @AndrewJBoyer and Musical Director Steve Warburton and the Holy Family R.C. Primary School Choir!

“Also my thanks to Billy the Mayor and his lovely wife Lynn, and his staff, Dorothy and Naz for all their support????

Faced grave danger

James Magennis who joined the Royal Navy aged 15. He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy wrote both the words and the music for the play.

It also featured actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney and comedian Jimmy himself.

Read more about the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal here.

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
War hero musical has a new lead character 150 150 mhamer

War hero musical has a new lead character

The musical will be performed on Remembrance SundayThe musical by Jimmy Cricket about a war hero has a new lead character for Sunday’s show at Rochdale Town Hall.

Let’s hear it for the wee man will be performed in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.
It is about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross and tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis.
US-born musician and singer Andrew J Boyer has replaced actor Nick Newbould in the lead role.
Andrew J Boyer will play war hero Jim Magennis in Jimmy Cricket's musical at Rochdale Town Hall on Remembrance SundayAndrew (pictured left) is a 24-year-old piano-vocalist from Dallas in Texas who just moved to Manchester.
He has been a performer for almost a decade now, and sings and plays piano from time to time on cruise ships.
Andrew tweeted: “It’s a bit of a detour from my usual piano-bar routine, but.. This Sunday at 4pm, I’ll be filling in for Nick Newbould, and playing the lead character in Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket’s musical/play: ‘Let’s Hear It For The Wee Man’. ????
“I’ll be sharing… ift.tt/34FRZWS!”
Jimmy posted on Twitter: “I would like to thank that fine singer and piano player from Texas Andrew J Boyer for stepping in at the 11th hour to play the part of Jim Magennis in my Remembrance day Concert at the Rochdale Town this coming Sunday.”
Faced grave danger

‘Let’s Hear It For The Wee Man’ – Musical Concert in aid of the Mayor’s Charity Appeal rochdaleonline.co.uk/events/62591/e via @RochdaleOnline

The musical tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis who joined the Royal Navy aged 15. He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy has written both the words and the music for the play.

It also features actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney and comedian Jimmy himself.

Tickets are available at Rochdale Town Hall from the reception or by contacting 01706 924773. Tickets cost £10.

Read more about the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal here.

Jimmy and the mayor met up a while back to promote the play.

Rochdale Council tweeted: “Come here, come here!

“We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm.

“And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and@RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the event.”

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
Tribute ahead of Remembrance Sunday musical 150 150 mhamer

Tribute ahead of Remembrance Sunday musical

The musical will be performed on Remembrance SundayJimmy Cricket’s latest message about his Remembrance Day musical includes a poignant tribute.
Let’s hear it for the wee man will be performed at Rochdale Town Hall in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.
It is about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Jimmy tweeted: “Next Sunday’s concert at the Rochdale Town hall, ‘ Let’s Hear it for the Wee Man’, is a tribute to the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“And on a personal note to the late Margie Shaw from Preston whose unstinting support for the project will always be remembered.”

The musical tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis who joined the Royal Navy aged 15.

He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy has written both the words and the music for the play.

It features actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney, actor Nick Newbould and comedian Jimmy himself.

Tickets are available at Rochdale Town Hall from the reception or by contacting 01706 924773. Tickets cost £10.

Read more about the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal here.

Jimmy and the mayor met up a while back to promote the play.

Rochdale Council tweeted: “Come here, come here!

“We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm.

“And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and@RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the event.”

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
Twitter profile features Remembrance Sunday musical 150 150 mhamer

Twitter profile features Remembrance Sunday musical

Jimmy Cricket's Twitter profile promotes his muscial in Rochdale

Jimmy Cricket is using his Twitter profile (above) to promote his forthcoming musical in aid of charity.

Let’s hear it for the wee man is about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross.

It takes place on Remembrance Sunday (10 November) at Rochdale Town Hall in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.

It tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis who grew up in abject poverty in Belfast and joined the Royal Navy aged 15.

Come here, come here! We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm. And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy has written both the words and the music for the play.

It features actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney, actor Nick Newbould and comedian Jimmy himself.

Tickets are available at Rochdale Town Hall from the reception or by contacting 01706 924773. Tickets cost £10.

Read more about the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal here.

Jimmy and the mayor met up recently to promote the play (see photo above right).

Rochdale Council tweeted: “Come here, come here!

“We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm.

“And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and@RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the event.”

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
Musical about Victoria Cross hero set for Remembrance Sunday 150 150 mhamer

Musical about Victoria Cross hero set for Remembrance Sunday

Come here, come here! We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm. And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

Jimmy Cricket’s musical about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross takes place on Remembrance Sunday.

Let’s hear it for the wee man will be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on 10 November in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.

It tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis who grew up in abject poverty in Belfast and joined the Royal Navy aged 15.

He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy has written both the words and the music for the play.

It features actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney, actor Nick Newbould and comedian Jimmy himself.

Tickets are available at Rochdale Town Hall from the reception or by contacting 01706 924773. Tickets cost £10.

Read more about the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal here.

Jimmy and the mayor met up recently to promote the play.

Rochdale Council tweeted: “Come here, come here!

“We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm.

“And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and@RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the event.”

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
Old friend becomes Mayor of Rochdale 150 150 mhamer

Old friend becomes Mayor of Rochdale

Jimmy Cricket with new Rochdale mayor Peter Rush and Heywood and Middleton MP Jim DobbinJimmy Cricket was invited to Rochdale Town Hall to witness his good friend, Cllr Peter Rush, become Mayor of the Borough at the annual Mayor Making Ceremony.

World-famous entertainer Jimmy is pictured above with the new mayor at the post-ceremony reception, along with Heywood and Middleton MP Jim Dobbin.

Jimmy said: “I was delighted to see Peter become the mayor and have known him for over 30 years.

“In fact, when I was getting established within the northern club circuit back in the 1970s, Peter was the concert secretary of a social Club in Heywood and gave me a 15-minute spot!”