Jimmy’s latest Welly Award granted to Norden based performer

Eric Devereaux and Jimmy Cricket with the Golden Wellington Award

Rochdale based comedian Jimmy Cricket has presented his unique Golden Wellington Award and this time he has presented it to Norden based Eric Devereaux for a lifetime in show business.

The award was made during the latest one of Jimmy’s jam night concerts which he arranges every other month at the St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Norden.

Eric Devereaux has had a stellar career as a compere and male vocalist with a great ability to croon. Eric had notable stints during the cabaret heyday of the 60s and 70s as a host at iconic venues such as Cadishead Conservative Club. He was good friends with Hughie Green – the legendary presenter of ‘Opportunity Knocks’ - and was a well-known mover and shaker on the Greater Manchester club circuit with close ties to Bernard Manning and Mike Yarwood amongst others.

He continues to be one of Sir Alex Fergurson favourite performers, to the point where Eric had become an annual fixture for Sir Alex’s birthday celebrations each year.

Eric moved to Norden to retire a few years ago having been based for most of his life in Failsworth.

He continues to keep his hand in show business and he is one of the conveners of an informal northern network of performers who come together periodically to socialise over lunch at the Royal Toby Restaurant in Castleton. This network is called the Wooden Hut Club. Over the last five years the club has 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 added: "Eric is so deserving of a recognition of his talents and of the wonderful career in show business 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 wowed by the photos he brought along to prove what a remarkable life story he has and continues to have."