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Butlins photo from 1968 evokes fond memories 150 150 mhamer

Butlins photo from 1968 evokes fond memories

Butlins Redcoat Jimmy Cricket with Jill Bright and her sister Joy in 1968

A photograph almost half-a-century old has brought back some great memories for famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket.

The Northern Irish comedian was recently sent the picture featuring him as a Butlins Redcoat in 1968.

At that time, Jimmy was at the Butlins resort in the Essex coastal resort of Clacton-on-Sea.

It was sent by a lady from Plymouth called Jill Bright and she and her sister Joy are with Jimmy in the photo above.

Jill explained her family had fond memories from that summer of an Irish Redcoat in Clacton, but it was not until she found negatives of photographs belonging to her mum that she saw a reference to his first name.

When she got the negatives processed, she realised this Irish Redcoat was none other than well-known funnyman Jimmy.

In a further twist, Jill also works in the theatre industry as she is the stage doorkeeper at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal.

Jimmy, 71, said: “I was thrilled to receive the photo as it brought back such wonderful memories for me and I would like to thank Jill for allowing me to see it again.”

Ice Cream sketch with the Patton brothers 150 150 mhamer

Ice Cream sketch with the Patton brothers

The Ice Cream sketch which Jimmy Cricket did with the Patton brothers

Photographs of a Christmas pantomime more than 25 years ago brought back some happy memories for famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket.

The Irish comedian performed in a production of Aladdin at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham during the 1985-86 panto season.

Brian Patton, one half of a very experienced double act called the Patton Brothers, has posted the photos seen on this page on his Facebook profile.

Jimmy Cricket with the Patton brothers

He and his brother, Jimmy, have an accumulated wealth of knowledge gained from almost 60 years in the entertainment business.

And they are the two elder brothers of Paul and Barry Elliot, the Chuckle Brothers. Their father was comedian Gene Patton.

Both Jimmy and Brian have made many appearances in ChuckleVision with their younger brothers.

Above is a photo of the Ice Cream sketch which Jimmy did with the Patton brothers.

This was part of a production of Aladdin at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham during the 1985-6 Christmas season. Jimmy took the role of Wishee Washee and the Patton Brothers played the Chinese Policemen.

The photo above right is of the three of them again during the same season, but this time not in costume.

And the third picture – below – is of the entire cast from Aladdin, which also featured Barbara Windsor as Aladdin and Billy Dainty as Widow Twankey.

Jimmy said: “The photos brought back many happy memories of the season for me!”

The Irish Family History Centre has recently published an article about the fascinating life and the Irish roots of the late Dame Barbara Windsor.

You can read the piece here.

The entire cast from Aladdin which also featured Barbara Windsor as Aladdin and Billy Dainty as Widow Twankey