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rochdale

The Scattering play on ‘Jimmy’s Jammers’ night 150 150 mhamer

The Scattering play on ‘Jimmy’s Jammers’ night

Audience at Jimmy Cricket's night of entertainment

Jimmy Cricket was delighted local Gaelic rock outfit The Scattering were able to join him at his latest ‘jam’ night in Rochdale.

What started several years ago as an opportunity for Jimmy and other performers to try out new routines continues with much success as he still hosts these evenings every other month in the lounge area of a local parish centre in his home town of Rochdale.

The famous entertainer has nicknamed those who come to regularly support these evenings as ‘Jimmy’s Jammers’!

Every time the 71-year-old comedian hosts these get-togethers there is a raffle and the selling of refreshments, with all proceeds donated to a chosen charity. The Rochdale And District Blind Welfare Society was the cause to benefit from the latest event in March.

Band The Scattering

Jimmy tries to structure these evenings in a way which not only gives him the chance to try out new sketches and songs – the reason he started organising them in the first place – but he also ensures there are a number of other talented entertainers performing.

As the March night was a week or so before St Patrick’s Day, he invited The Scattering (above) to join him as he knows the band’s lead singer, Andy Kelly.

Said Jimmy: “The band played an instrumental set during the first half, but Andy was able to front the band in the second half when they performed classic Irish singalongs which went down a treat with all those present.”

The next ‘Jimmy’s jammers’ night at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale is scheduled for Wednesday 3 May, starting at 7.30pm.

Jimmy Cricket and fellow performers

Rochdale charity gala to Birmingham bingo club 150 150 mhamer

Rochdale charity gala to Birmingham bingo club

Mayor of Rochdale's charity gala

Jimmy Cricket was given a fabulous reception at two shows during the last weekend of January.

On the Friday, the 71-year-old popular entertainer was invited to perform at the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity gala at the Heywood Civic Centre.

The event was organised by his friend of many years, Cllr Peter Rush. Appearing alongside Jimmy was John Stokes’ Bachelors, comedian Dusty Young (who compered the proceedings), and the band Carnaby Street.

Jimmy Cricket performing at the Mayor of Rochdale's charity gala at the Heywood Civic Centre

Jimmy at the gala

It was staged in the presence of this year’s Mayor of Rochdale – Cllr Ray Dutton. All the proceeds from this special night of entertainment went to local Rochdale and Heywood Charities that are supported by this year’s Mayor.

The next night, Rochdale-based comedian Jimmy was down in Birmingham where he appeared at the BJ’s Bingo club (poster for the event is below) in the Kitts Green district of the city.

This was the second BJ’s Bingo club Jimmy had visited in six months,  as he was at their venue in Leigh last October.

Many thanks must go to the Birmingham general manager David Cooksley for arranging Jimmy’s visit.

BJ’s Bingo club

Can you help improve Jimmy Cricket’s website? 150 150 mhamer

Can you help improve Jimmy Cricket’s website?

Jimmy CricketJimmy Cricket is calling on visitors to this website to see whether they can help him to improve it in any way.

It follows a recent visit  by the famous entertainer’s wife, Mrs Cricket, to a major retail store in the town of Rochdale, where they live.

Mrs Cricket heard staff  in the shop encouraging customers with thoughts on how to help improve the store to personally get in touch with the  manager whose contact details were provided.

Jimmy, 71, said: “I thought this was an excellent approach and I would like to adopt it for all those who either visit this website regularly or just happen to have seen it for the first time today.”

He is asking for feedback because he views his website as the main channel for everything to do with Jimmy Cricket.

This is not just for regular news and for him to communicate what he has been up to, but also for the re-run of some of his TV appearances from a time when television was more of an entertainment medium than perhaps it is now.

Any suggestions or ideas can be emailed direct to Jimmy at jimmy@jimmycricket.co.uk

Christmas CD for charity is now officially on sale 150 150 mhamer

Christmas CD for charity is now officially on sale

Children from St Patrick's RC Primary School in Rochdale sang at the concert

Jimmy Cricket has officially launched his new charity CD for Christmas 2016.

The event earlier this month was marked by a mini-concert at the Francis House Children’s Hospice in south Manchester.

It was a fitting venue for the launch of the CD, called Santa bring my wellies back to me,  as all proceeds will be donated to the charity.

The audience was composed of Francis House volunteers and parents of some of the children who are cared for by the organisation.

The evening started with a buffet followed by the mini-concert. For this, famous entertainer Jimmy – who has just turned 71 – was joined on stage by some of the other singers who feature on the CD, namely the choir from St Patrick’s RC Primary School in Rochdale and his wife, the female vocalist May Marion.

All 10 songs from the new CD were performed and all were well-received, with a particular warm reaction granted to the signature track, which Jimmy performed alongside the choir, and also for the novelty song, No one wants Wilbur (the turkey).

There was also an opportunity for the choir (pictured top) to sing a track on their own and they chose One bright star from their Christmas repertoire.

Jimmy, pictured below performing one of the songs, said: “The choir not only sang superbly, but they behaved impeccably and their mere enthusiastic presence gave everybody at the concert a lift.”

After the event, copies of the CD were available to be bought and nearly 200 have already been sold – this without a Christmas illumination or decoration in sight!

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas CD is now officially on sale

‘Comical surprises’ at Christmas CD launch 150 150 mhamer

‘Comical surprises’ at Christmas CD launch

Jimmy Cricket’s new Christmas CD is in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice

Jimmy Cricket’s new Christmas CD in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice is set to be officially launched – and some surprises are expected!

The CD,  the signature track for which is called Santa bring my wellies back to me, will be formally unveiled at a special event to be held at Francis House in south Manchester on Wednesday 12 October.

The launch will feature famous entertainer Jimmy performing songs from the CD alongside other performers who sang on it, including the St Patrick’s RC Primary School choir from Rochdale. There will also be other comical surprises, which are to be expected given Jimmy’s involvement!

The CD has been available to purchase since the middle of September and Jimmy, 70, has already sold nearly 100 copies through the online shop facility on this website and at some of his live appearances.

It is priced at £5 and features 10 tracks Jimmy has written, alongside a bonus track featuring stand-up with a festive theme.

For those who have not used the website facility, when the PayPal purchase button is pressed, this leads to a new page displaying a purchase summary page within PayPal. The purchaser is then guided through the necessary steps required to buy the Christmas CD.

Please be aware there is an additional £1 added to each PayPal order to cover postage and packaging. There is also an instruction box that appears during the process allowing for any instructions to be entered, for example if the CD is to be signed by Jimmy for someone special.

* Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice is priced at £5 and will be available for purchase from either the hospice direct or from the shop on this website.

Santa CD is a ‘perfect present for Christmas’ 150 150 mhamer

Santa CD is a ‘perfect present for Christmas’
Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD on sale 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD on sale

Jimmy Cricket's new Christmas CD, Santa Bring My Wellies Back To Me

Jimmy Cricket has produced a video advert for his new Christmas CD, which is now on sale.

The CD is in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice in south Manchester and will be available for purchase either via the online shopping facility on this website or from Francis House direct.

The advert was filmed and edited by Dom Hyndman of Inspired Video. It can be viewed on the homepage of this website and on Jimmy’s YouTube channel.

Note sheet for Jimmy Cricket's Santa Bring My Wellies Back To Me

It wonderfully illustrates the theme top entertainer Jimmy has devised for this CD as Dom spent an afternoon filming one of the recording days at the Gracieland recording studio – owned by Rochdale-born singer, song-writer and actress Lisa Stansfield.

Children from St Patrick’s RC Primary School choir in Rochdale helped Jimmy, 70, with the recording of the CD (picture below).

Jimmy Cricket at the recording of his forthcoming Christmas CD

The advert also features Jimmy himself explaining a bit about the new album, which is titled Santa bring my wellies back to me.

The new Christmas CD will be officially launched at Francis House on the evening of Wednesday 12 October, but copies can be purchased now!

“Those who buy it will know they have made a much-needed contribution to such a worthy cause as Francis House,” said Jimmy.

* Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice is priced at £5 and be available for purchase from either the hospice direct or from the online shop at Jimmy’s website, www.jimmycricket.co.uk

Jimmy Cricket sang his Christmas CD songs with children from St Patrick's RC School in Rochdale