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st vincent’s parish centre

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

‘Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie’

Jimmy Cricket's latest monthly column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket relived his wedding day 40 years on in his latest column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post.

The famous entertainer  is headlining Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Charter Theatre in Preston – where he made his pantomime debut in 1981 – over the Christmas and New Year period.

When the Lancashire Evening Post contacted Jimmy through his website editor Martin Hamer – former digital editor at the LEP – about the idea of a monthly feature in the run-up to the panto, he thought it was a “very flattering request”.

And his most recent column recalls the happy memories from 1974 – and how he celebrated his ruby anniversary.

Jimmy also talks about the pantomime, which will be directed by Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies who found fame in the 1960s on Opportunity Knocks when it was watched by an astonishing 20 million people.

“Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie,” laughs Jimmy in his column.

Renewing wedding vows 40 years on 150 150 mhamer

Renewing wedding vows 40 years on

Jimmy and May Cricket celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with all the family

It was a family occasion in more ways than one when Jimmy Cricket and his wife May celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary recently.

Jimmy and May Cricket got married at St Joseph’s Catholic church in Bury on 25 September 1974They got married at St Joseph’s Catholic church in Bury on 25 September 1974 (photo right) and, 40 years and three days later, they renewed their vows at St Mary’s, Sabden in East Lancashire (below left).

And the priest who took the Sabden service was none other than the couple’s younger son, Fr Frankie Mulgrew.

Close family (above) attended the service, which was followed by a special celebratory dinner at the nearby Spread Eagle Inn, Sawley in the Ribble Valley.

Jimmy and May Cricket renewed their vows on Saturday 27 September at St Mary’s, Sabden in East LancashireJoining both Jimmy and May for their special day of celebrations were all four of their children: Dale, Frankie, Jamie and Katie.

Also present were daughter-in-law, Philippa, and son-in-law, Lee.

Jimmy and May’s grandchildren made their presence known during the day as both Tristan and Lorelai participated in this joyous occasion.

Special thanks at Fr Frankie’s first Mass 150 150 mhamer

Special thanks at Fr Frankie’s first Mass

Fr Frankie hugs his dad Jimmy Cricket after dedicating his book, Does God LOL?, to himFather Frankie Mulgrew had a special present for his dad Jimmy Cricket, the famous entertainer, when he celebrated his first Mass as a Roman Catholic priest.

Fr Frankie Mulgrew celebrates his first Mass

Having been ordained at Salford Cathedral the previous day, Fr Frankie said his first Mass at St Vincent’s RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, where has been based for several years.

During the Mass, Fr Frankie – hugging his dad and thanking him for all he has done for him (picture above) – presented him with a special gift as a token of his gratitude… a copy of the book entitled Does God LOL?

Liz Dawn (who played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street) talks to Frankie's friend Liz Creagh after the service. Liz was at both the ordination and the First Mass and Frankie was really thrilled she came to both eventsFrankie has compiled the book, which develops a theme around whether God has a sense of humour with the help of well-known contributors including Tim Vine, Ricky Tomlinson and Jo Brand.

He dedicated it to his father who said he had no idea this was going to happen.

Among the hundreds of people who attended the packed service at St Vincent’s was Liz Dawn, Lord David Alton, who has been a great guiding light for Frankie Mulgrew, reads the first reading at the Masswho played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street.

Above, she is pictured talking to another of Frankie’s friends, Liz Creagh, after the service.

Liz Dawn was at both the ordination and the first Mass, and Frankie said he was really thrilled she had attended both events.

Lord David AltonFr Frankie Mulgrew leaves church after saying his first Mass as a Catholic priest, who has been a great guiding light for Frankie, read the first reading at the Mass (above).

A buffet was held after Fr Frankie’s first Mass at St Vincent’s Parish Centre, which is just yards from the church.

The ordination service, on Saturday 13 July, was presided over by the Rt Rev Bishop Terence Brain – Bishop of Salford – and in the presence of the Rt Rev Mark Davis, Bishop of Shrewsbury.

It was a joint ordination as Frankie’s friend, Nathan Horne, was also ordained to the priesthood and so the cathedral was packed with nearly 800 people in attendance.

* All photos courtesy of Graham Sivills from Norden Studio

View more photos from this special occasion here

Fr Frankie Mulgrew celebrates his first Mass

Maloney’s Big Moment 150 150 mhamer

Maloney’s Big Moment

Cast in Maloney's Big Moment: Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner, Sarah Groarke-Booth and Jimmy CricketA newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor inspired top entertainer Jimmy Cricket to write a new radio play.

And Maloney’s Big Moment got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale.

Famous comedian Jimmy wrote the play after seeing the article and thinking it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!Radio producer Roger Neale

Joining Jimmy for the recording in early April was a host of locally based actors and actresses.

These included Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner and Sarah Groarke-Booth (all the cast are in the photo above), alongside the production team of Gerry Coates and Roger Neale.

Roger Neale (right) came all the way from Mansfield to help out with the production of the play.

Gerry Coates, from the internet Catholic radio station called Heart Gives unto Heart, and Jimmy between them made the production happen.

Interestingly, the new radio station has been acquired by the national Catholic newspaper called The Universe and will now become a division under this paper’s banner.

It is hoped during the relaunch of the station that this radio play will feature prominently in the opening week’s schedule – watch out for further details on this website.

:: Thanks to John Kay for providing these two great photos from this event.