Posts Tagged :

shows

A retired fireman and The Original Wag 150 150 mhamer

A retired fireman and The Original Wag

The Original Wag by Graham AshworthJimmy Cricket is mentioned in the foreword of a new book by a Rochdale-born novelist.

The famous entertainer was presented with his own personal copy of The Original Wag by author Graham Ashworth. Jimmy features in the book and his contribution is also acknowledged.

Graham was a firefighter with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service before retiring in 2009. His first novel was Man O’ The World, which was released in 2013 and The Original Wag is his second.

Amazon, the popular retail website, says: “Both books mirror extraordinary life through the medium of fictional biographies. Nostalgia, humour and a gritty way of life feature prominently to create a welcome journey down Memory Lane.”

Graham now lives in Rossendale, Lancashire, with his wife Dawn. He is currently working on a third novel, the details of which will be revealed shortly, and is a regular contributor to Rossendale’s Life magazine.

Belfast-born Jimmy, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, said: “I wish Graham the very best with this book as it has an interesting theme and I hope many people get to read it!”

And there’s more… 150 150 mhamer

And there’s more…

Jimmy Cricket with William McLean Kerr, who was the designer of the title sequence for the first series of And There's More

Jimmy Cricket was reminded of an old television colleague via this photograph posted on Facebook, the social media website.

It was taken during filming for comedian Jimmy’s TV series called And There’s More that was broadcast on ITV during the mid-1980s.

In the photo with the famous entertainer is William McLean Kerr, who was the designer of the title sequence for the first series. It was he who sent Jimmy this photo through Facebook.

William stopped working in television not long after the picture was taken. He decided to go and paint for a living, and now has a studio in Troon, Scotland. William paints oil paintings, landscapes, seascapes, fine art prints and drawings.

Jimmy said: “I was thrilled William got in contact after all these years and the photo was certainly a nice piece of nostalgia for me.”

Entertainers get together for lunch 150 150 mhamer

Entertainers get together for lunch
Jimmy Cricket with entertainer Eric Devereaux, swing singer Andy Prior and comedian Austin Knight

Jimmy with fellow comedian Austin Knight and singers Eric Devereaux and Andy Prior

The latest luncheon arranged for Jimmy Cricket and some of his friends from the showbusiness fraternity in northern England took place earlier this summer.

The Wooden Hut club is the periodic and informal get-together arranged for the fellow entertainers.

It takes place at the Royal Toby restaurant in Castleton, Rochdale, which is ideally located because of the easy access to and from the M62 motorway, and is jointly organised by two of Jimmy’s good friends – BBC Radio producer Steve Garner and Rochdale-based performer Eric Devereaux.

This latest edition of the club was at the beginning of June and was also attended, among others, by comedian Smug Roberts, Buzz Hawkins from the Bradshaws – the radio and television comedy – actor John Hensall and impersonator Johnny Moore.

Hello again to Hunstanton! 150 150 mhamer

Hello again to Hunstanton!

Jimmy Cricket is back next month at the venue where he spent the majority of the 2013 summer season.

The famous comedian returns to the Princess Theatre in the seaside resort of Hunstanton in Norfolk on Sunday 3 August.

A photo (below right) was posted on Twitter by the owners of Café Blah Blahh in Hunstanton to coincide with a  promotional push to publicise the show.

Owners of Café Blah Blahh posted a photo publicising Jimmy Cricket's return to Hunstanton

Jimmy was in the West Norfolk resort for most of last summer, as he starred in the Great British Seaside Summer show.

During his time in Hunstanton, Jimmy had a fantastic stay and earned the affection of the local community.

This included him touching base with a number of local businesses, including the Wash Monster boat ride operator; Hunstanton’s sealife centre; the Marine Hotel (where he stayed for the duration of the season) and Café Blah Blahh to name only a few.

Jimmy said: “I can’t wait to return to the Princess Theatre in this idyllic resort and hope to bump into a few familiar faces when I land there again in August.”

Returning for the first time in a decade 150 150 mhamer

Returning for the first time in a decade

Jimmy Cricket will headline the 60s night at Huddersfield Sports CentreJimmy Cricket is going to perform in Huddersfield for the first time in at least 10 years.

The well-known Northern Irish entertainer will headline a 60s party at the Huddersfield Sports Centre in the West Yorkshire town on Saturday 13 September.

The event is being hosted and promoted by local entrepreneur Michael Ricards.

Jimmy said: “It’s amazing to think that being based in Rochdale in North Manchester, I am only a stone’s throw away from Huddersfield.

“But I have not appeared in the town for at least a decade! So this is a welcome return from yours truly and the night promises to be an evening brimming with laughter and dancing.”

Tickets are available by either visiting www.showsuk.com or ringing 0800 689 1708.

A door from Saudi Arabia – in Chipping Sodbury! 150 150 mhamer

A door from Saudi Arabia – in Chipping Sodbury!
Jimmy Cricket with the Moda House Hotel owners, Jo and Duncan, in front of the door from Saudi Arabia

Jimmy with hotel owners Jo & Duncan in front of the Saudi Arabian door

Jimmy Cricket encountered an unusual hotel door during his stay in south  Gloucestershire for the 2014 Chipping Sodbury Festival.

Promotional flyer for the 2014 Chipping Sodbury Festival

The famous entertainer was one of the featured performers for this year’s festival at Chipping Sodbury’s impressive Town Hall.

The organisers of the festival also arranged for Jimmy and his wife, May, to stay overnight at the nearby Moda House Hotel on the High Street in the market town.

Hotel owners Jo and Duncan have a door which is their pride and joy because it has been shipped over from Saudi Arabia. In fact, it cost more for the door to be shipped over to England than for the item itself!

So why the fascination with this attractive feature located within the hotel dining room? Well, Duncan was a hotel manager in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, so the door is a keepsake for both him and his wife to remember their time in the country.

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.”