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Theatre campaigners are latest Wellie winners 150 150 mhamer

Theatre campaigners are latest Wellie winners
Jimmy Cricket presents the April Golden Wellie award to Norman Jacobs and Joan Beatton

Jimmy presents the award to Norman Jacobs andJoan Beatton

Jimmy Cricket has announced that two theatre volunteers from Essex are the Golden Wellie winners for April.

Norman Jacobs is the chairman of the Tendering Trust which runs the West Cliff Theatre in the seaside resort of Clacton-on-Sea, while Joan Beatton is the principal co-ordinator of the volunteers who support the venue as a friends group.

Jimmy said: “Norman has been the chair of the trust for a number of years and is unwaveringly devoted to the theatre’s survival.

“He is quite a character and appeared on a TV game show lately where he pocketed  £10,000 in prize money and used it to fund an adventure to south America.

“Joan is a tireless campaigner for the West Cliff Theatre. She leads the volunteers group from the front, putting in so much time and energy to help keep the theatre alive, vibrant and, most importantly, open.”

The West Cliff Theatre is one of Jimmy’s favourite venues – he has appeared there on several occasions in the past, including headlining the 2006 summer season – and he wanted to recognise the efforts of Joan and Norman in trying to keep it going – hence the Golden Wellington award to both of them.

He made the presentation during his last visit to the theatre on Easter Sunday. Jimmy was appearing in the evening, but earlier in the day he was invited to a lunch with the friends group as a special guest and he used the opportunity to present Norman and Joan with the Golden Wellington.

Jimmy Cricket with Norman Jacobs and his wife Linda

Jimmy with Norman and his wife Linda

Presenting… the Jimmy & Alfie Show 150 150 mhamer

Presenting… the Jimmy & Alfie Show

Jimmy Cricket is set to join forces with BBC Radio Newcastle’s Alfie Joey for a comedy show to be reckoned with at South Shield’s The Customs House

The legendary Jimmy Cricket is set to join forces with BBC Radio Newcastle’s Alfie Joey for a comedy extravaganza at The Customs House Theatre in South Shields.

For one night only, two of the finest exponents of the art of comedy will bring their contrasting styles to a show that will be bursting with one-liners, gags, stories and the odd punchline or two!

The Jimmy and Alfie Show is on Saturday 10 May.  Tickets have been kept affordable, with the top price capped at £14.

Alfie said: “It is a sheer delight to be sharing the stage with a comedy great like Jimmy Cricket.

“By teaming up with Jimmy, we not only complement one another, but we’ll bring different gag-telling approaches to the evening. This means those who can come along will have a real taste of comedy throughout our show at The Customs House.”

Jimmy said: “I’ve worked with Alfie on a number of occasions in the past, including teaming up together a couple of years ago for a show at the ARC arts centre in Stockton-on-Tees. So I was thrilled to be offered this chance to work with him again in South Shields because he is just great fun to be around.

“Why not come along and indulge in a few chuckles in what will be a splendid evening of laughter and frivolity!”

Lemon Tree, jam night & soap stars 150 150 mhamer

Lemon Tree, jam night & soap stars

Brian and Maxine from the renowned band caked Lemon Tree

A renowned band called Lemon Tree were among the artists at a recent jam night organised and hosted by famous comedian Jimmy Cricket.

Local, national and sometimes international entertainers perform for nothing at the monthly event which takes place at St Vincents RC Parish Centre in Norden, Rochdale.

Among the musicians at the jam evening in March was Lemon Tree which features Brian and Maxine.

Jimmy said: “The pair have been in the business of performing for a number of years and Lemon Tree developed a reputation of being one of the best corporate live musical bands in the country.

“As a result they were never out of work and travelled the length and breadth of the country performing at major corporate events and company parties.”

Out of the success of the band, Brian also developed an entertainment agency called the Lemon Tree Agency.

It initially specialised in arranging musical acts and bands,  but of late Brian has developed the personal appearance side of the business through links he has made with a number of soap stars. His new website can be found here. 

Brian and Maxine are seen above performing at the St Vincents jam night in March and, below, they are pictured with Jimmy.

Both photographs were taken by St Vincent’s photographer John Kay.

Jimmy Cricket with Brian and Maxine from the renowned band caked Lemon Tree
St Patrick’s Day event set for repeat 150 150 mhamer

St Patrick’s Day event set for repeat

Jimmy with Clare Bowles and Marianne KavanaghA St Patrick’s Day event featuring famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket was so successful that he was immediately booked again for next year!

The Northern Irish comedian appeared at a specially arranged lunch for St Pat’s Day 2014, which was held at the iconic Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool.

Jimmy is pictured with Clare Bowles in the photograph below left and, right, both of them are joined by Marianne Kavanagh. The photos were posted by Clare on Facebook.

Jimmy Cricket with Clare BowlesThe event was organised by the Adelphi Hotel and because it went down so well, within 24 hours it was decided to have the same again for the 2015 St Patrick’s celebrations.

And for next year’s show they did not hesitate to rebook Jimmy as they had received so much interest from people for a repeat performance.

The Edwardian-style Adelphi hotel is internationally renowned and was the focus of the  fly-on-the-wall TV documentary series Hotel.

The summer of 2006 150 150 mhamer

The summer of 2006

Jimmy Cricket with Tracy Hudson and Sue

This picture of Jimmy Cricket was taken at the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton–on-Sea during the summer season of 2006.

The famous entertainer is shown alongside audience member Tracy Hudson and also Sue who was one of the theatre’s ushers.

Tracy is a big fan of Jimmy and regularly watches archive footage on his YouTube channel.
Jimmy said: “Tracy is not currently in the best of health, but I wish her a very speedy recovery so she can get to one of my live shows in the future.”
Walkabout with the Lamplighters 150 150 mhamer

Walkabout with the Lamplighters

Jimmy Cricket and the Lamplighters

Jimmy Cricket teamed up with a musician he has known for more than  40 years when he promoted a show in Stockport earlier this year.

The famous entertainer thought a walkabout would be a good way of publicising his forthcoming visit to Stockport’s Plaza Theatre at the end of January.

Jimmy Cricket and the Lamplighters

Armed with his much-loved saxophone, he decided he would join his friends, the busking outfit called the Lamplighters, and walk from the pub called The Swan With Two Necks in central Stockport.

They went along Mersey Square in front of the main entrance to the Merseyway Shopping Centre, and then on to the theatre itself.

The Lamplighters are in fact the Walker brothers – Cyril (on the accordion) and Ivor, commonly known as Mack (on the drum).
Jimmy has known Cyril for a very long time – it was he who helped the Northern Irish comedian to get established on the North of England club circuit when he first set out on the road to showbusiness back in the early 1970s.
At that time Cyril was part of a double act called Clayton and Walker who were already touring around the entertainment venues in the North.
Jimmy said: “The parade through Stockport was a nice bit of fun. It also certainly made an impact, as when I returned to the Plaza I had a very healthy crowd in attendance who all had a great time watching my stand-up show!”
The ‘wellie wonderman’ 150 150 mhamer

The ‘wellie wonderman’
Jimmy Cricket and his family appeared in the Weekend and Titbits magazine in the 1980s

Jimmy Cricket and his family appeared in the Weekend & Titbits magazine in the 1980s

Jimmy Cricket was described as the “Wellie Wonderman” by a magazine during the 1980s.

Jimmy Cricket and his family appeared in the Weekend and Titbits magazine in the 1980s

The entertainer, famous for his wellies which he wears on the wrong feet, and his family were featured  in the issue of Weekend and Titbits on 19 June 1985.

Jimmy was pictured on the front page of the magazine holding a cricket bat and an article entitled “Wonder in wellies” inside includes a photograph (right) of Jimmy and his young family at the time.

This nostalgic look-back is courtesy of Amy Phillips who has set up a new website and blog (an online diary) about the variety genre under the title Variety Emporium.

Jimmy said: “I am most grateful for Amy featuring on this new website a look-back at one of the publications I appeared in during the 1980s.

“I  was also thrilled Amy recently came along to see my ‘Audience with’ show at the Ormskirk Civic Hall – it shows Amy really is a true supporter of variety!”

Jimmy Cricket and his family appeared in the Weekend and Titbits magazine in the 1980s