Well, a bless my soul..
Elvis impersonator Jim wins award after he raises £200k for children’s hospice
ELVIS may have been the king of rock ‘n’ roll but impersonator Jim Nicholas is undoubtedly the king of charity fund-raising.
Jim, 73, has raised more than £200,000 at his shows for Francis House Children’s Hospice, and has now been recognised with a Pride of Manchester award.
He said: “It is such a huge shock but very, very nice.
“But this award isn’t just for me, it is for all those people who have come to my shows every week, supported me and donated their hard-earned cash to the charity. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
By day Jim was head gardener at the Bishop of Salford’s residence but by night he was a singer in the North West’s working-men’s clubs.
That came to an abrupt halt 40 years ago when he was plagued with throat problems and was told by a specialist to give up. But Jim was so determined to keep entertaining he set himself up as a DJ and showman who dressed up as Elvis. One day Jim, from Swinton, was sent to Francis House in Didsbury to help with the gardens. He said: “It was heartbreaking – these tots of three and four years old, some only had months to live. “I knew then I had to do something. So I started putting out a collection box at my shows. People would dig deep. At some I could raise £600 to £800.” Jim has raised more than £200,000 since 1994. He laughed: “I dress up as Elvis and come on stage with a walking frame with my old dog Shep. I am not the best in the world but people seem to like my shows and if I can raise money for Francis House that is all that matters.”
Watch the MEN Pride of Manchester Awards, in partnership with TSB, live at 7pm at facebook.com/prideofbritain