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St Patrick’s RC Primary School

Charity Christmas CD and Snow White panto treat 150 150 mhamer

Charity Christmas CD and Snow White panto treat

Jimmy Cricket's column in the Lancashire Evening PostJimmy Cricket has been looking back in his latest newspaper column on his recent visit to a top shopping centre – and looking ahead to the pantomime he is starring in, which starts tonight (8 December).

Jimmy’s promotion of his new charity Christmas CD continued at the Intu Trafford Centre on the outskirts of Manchester.

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

The popular 71-year-old comedian was invited to perform some tracks from the CD, entitled Santa bring my wellies back to me,  on the stage area of the Orient section of the mall.

Volunteers and staff from the Francis House Children’s Hospice – the very worthy cause Jimmy’s CD is in aid of – were also present.

In his December column for the Lancashire Evening Post, Jimmy says: “I had a very enjoyable time doing my couple of numbers up on the stage and then rushing down to the stall to help our wonderful volunteers sell CDs for those who wanted to take home the experience.”

* The new charity Christmas CD is available to buy from this website through a PayPal facility or in person directly from the hospice.

‘Mouth-watering treat for all ages’

Jimmy will play the Court Jester in the classic fairytale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the White Rose Theatre in Leeds City centre from 8 December to 1 January.

The White Rose Theatre is a new 1,400-seater arena, erected in a large marquee complex located within the premises of the Tetley contemporary arts gallery and near the city’s main train station.

This first evening performance on Friday 9 December will be a special charity preview of the show, where three local charities will stand to benefit greatly as all ticket sales will be shared out between them.

The panto also features reality TV celebrity Scotty T, who won this year’s Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5 and will play the role of Prince Charming.

Actors Louis Emerick (from Last of the Summer Wine and Brookside fame) and Tupele Dorgu (who has featured in Coronation Street and Hollyoaks) will play the roles of the Royal Tax Collector and the Wicked Queen respectively.

And there will be cameo performances from children’s TV programme Rainbow’s George and Zippy, plus a recorded sequence starring Jimmy’s very good friend and fellow comedian Ken Dodd.

In his Lancashire Evening Post column , Jimmy says:  “This year we’ll have the new heartthrob from television Scotty T as the Prince.

“Also Geoffrey and Zippy from Rainbow will be helping me to give the wicked queen her comeuppance and we’ll even have the great Ken Dodd appear on video within the magic mirror.

“Yes, a mouth-watering treat for all ages.”

* The show will run from 8 December 2016 to 1 January 2017 and tickets are now on sale –  visit www.whiterosetheatre.com or ring 0113 870 7769.

Jimmy Cricket will star in a pantomime production of the classic fairytale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Leeds over Christmas and New Year

Christmas CD visit to Trafford Centre shines spotlight on Francis House Children’s Hospice 150 150 mhamer

Christmas CD visit to Trafford Centre shines spotlight on Francis House Children’s Hospice

Jimmy Cricket with the St Patrick's RC school choir

Jimmy Cricket’s promotion of his new charity Christmas CD continued with a recent visit to the prestigious Intu Trafford Centre on the outskirts of Manchester.

The popular 71-year-old comedian was invited to to perform some tracks from the CD, entitled Santa bring my wellies back to me,  on the stage area of the Orient section of the mall.

Brian and Maxine Warner

Jimmy Cricket outside the Intu Trafford Centre near ManchesterIt was all arranged by the Trafford Centre’s Community Development manager, Charlotte Brown, who was a tremendous help in getting Jimmy’s visit off the ground.

Accompanying Jimmy on the stage of the Trafford Centre were other singers who helped him record his Christmas CD earlier in the year.

This included members of the St Patrick’s RC Primary School Choir from Jimmy’s hometown of Rochdale. They were superbly supported by not only their choir leaders, but also their head of school and executive head, along with a large group of parents who came to cheer on their performance at the Trafford Centre.

The cast was completed by Brian and Maxine Warner (above left) – who used to be the lead singers of one of the UK’s top corporate bands called Lemon Tree – and Jimmy’s wife, May Marion.

Volunteers and staff from the Francis House Children’s Hospice – the very worthy cause Jimmy’s CD is in aid of – were also present.

Jimmy said: “I was very pleased with the visit as not only was there a steady flow of CD sales throughout, but most importantly the whole exercise granted an invaluable spotlight on the hospice and its invaluable work.”

* The new charity Christmas CD is available to buy from this website through a PayPal facility or in person directly from the hospice.

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.

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

Santa pays unseasonable visit to Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD recording! 150 150 mhamer

Santa pays unseasonable visit to Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD recording!

Jimmy Cricket with Father Christmas and the choir from St Patrick's RC Primary School in Rochdale

Father Christmas made an unseasonable visit in Rochdale recently when he went to see locally based comedian Jimmy Cricket recording songs for his new CD.

Much-loved entertainer Jimmy was in the middle of putting together the first few songs for his Christmas album at  the Gracieland Studio owned by Rochdale-born singer, song-writer and actress Lisa Stansfield.

Helping him with this was the St Patrick’s RC Primary School choir when Father Christmas stopped by with a special treat – a pair of Jimmy’s famous wellington boots!

This was the perfect gift, as the signature track of Jimmy’s Christmas CD is to do with his famous footwear – Santa bring my wellies back to me.

This CD will be released in September for the Christmas 2016 season and all proceeds are going to the Francis House Children’s Hospice in south Manchester.

Jimmy Cricket at the recording of his forthcoming Christmas CD

Jimmy, 70, said: “It was great that Santa took time out from his off-season to pay us all a visit during what was a very festive recording session, albeit in the middle of summer!

“Santa also landed with a pair of my wellies, which fitted the bill well as the title of the CD is just that!

“Also, I must thank the pupils and staff of St Patrick’s Primary School who all sang their socks off for the songs they are involved with in the album. Their enthusiasm and energy really stood out.

“Add in the sheer professionalism from everyone at Gracieland and this all bodes well for a great Christmas product.

“When it goes on sale in September, those who buy it will know they have made a much-needed contribution to such a worthy cause as Francis House.”

Featured in the photos are Jimmy, Father Christmas and members of the St Patrick’s RC Primary School  choir who are: Roisin Hassett, Ruby Loynd, Gaea Aparis, Liberty Reynolds, Jemima Qureshi and Franchezka Barandino.

* Jimmy’s Christmas CD in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice will be out from 1 September. It will be 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 with the choir from St Patrick's RC Primary School in Rochdale