James Young

James Alexander Young (23 May 1918 – 5 July 1974), better known as Jimmy Young or simply Our Jimmy, was a Northern Irish actor and comedian born in Ballymoney and brought up in Belfast.

He performed on stage and television. His comedy records sold over a quarter of a million copies. His stage shows are most closely associated with the Group Theatre, where his one-man show gained a listing in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest running in the world. He also toured extensively across Ireland, Canada and the United States.

He is best remembered for the characters in his sketches, which uniquely reflected the character of the people of Belfast. These included "Orange Lily", "The Lady from Cherryvalley", and "Derek the Window Cleaner" from the BBC Radio Ulster series The McCooeys. He was also one of the first comedians to confront the Troubles in his material, while still appealing to both sides of the divided community.

A blue plaque in his memory is displayed at his birthplace in Union Street, Ballymoney and at his family's home in Fernwood Street, Ormeau Road, Belfast.

Life

James Alexander Young was born on 23 May 1918 at 33 Union Street Ballymoney, the fourth child of Alexander Young, a bread server, and Grace Woodrow. In the economic uncertainty following World War I, the Youngs moved to the industrial Belfast where Alexander found work as a stable hand for a local bakery. Until the age of 14, Young attended the Cooke Church School off the Ravenhill Road. Even at this early stage, Young's natural talent for humour was evident. His mother would often tell him, "Stop impersonating the visitors. Because after you do, I find it impossible to take them seriously."

During his youth, Young's mother would frequently take him to the theatres around Belfast. At the age of six, Young went with his mother to see a show starring Jimmy O'Dea. O'Dea would be a massive influence on Young who, like Young, was a highly skilled comic and female impersonator. He would also be influenced by many visiting English music hall acts.

At the age of 14, Young left school and found work as a rent collector for a local estate agent. Young collected rent from some of the toughest districts in Belfast. Young visited homes in the Falls Road, Shankill Road and Crumlin Road areas of the town. It was during these visits he would find the inspiration for many of his future comedy characters.

Due in part to the praise for his performance in A Story For Today, Young was offered a role in the Ulster Group Theatre's production of Joseph Tomelty's Right Again, Barnum. Young appeared in further Group Theatre productions and productions for other companies in Belfast but, in 1944, Young left Northern Ireland to seek greater success in England.

He found work in a repertory company based at the Stockport Hippodrome near Manchester, appearing in over a hundred productions across different genres. He soon left the company and joined the West End production of Seán O'Casey's Red Roses for Me. The play ran for seven months and was a great success. Following this, Young got to work with his hero Jimmy O'Dea in his production of Phil the Flutter's Ball. However, following an accident with a member of the audience, Young was let go from the show.

Young then joined a show that was being arranged by ENSA and was due to tour the Middle East. While on the tour, Young was to meet Jack Hudson He was listed in the Guinness Book of Records for having the longest running one man show ever and it was also claimed that he sold more albums in Northern Ireland than The Beatles.

Young also toured his one-man shows in Canada and America playing in the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

In 1972, Young was at the height of his career and BBC Northern Ireland offered him the chance to appear in his own television series. The first episode of the show, Saturday Night, aired on 14 October 1972.

In 1974, Young telephoned Hudson to inform him that there had been mysterious enquiries into his date of birth. Hudson's suspicion that Young was to be nominated in the New Year's honours list were apparently correct. Young was due to be appointed MBE at the start of 1975.

Theatre credits The following is a list of plays in which Young performed in the premiere production.

As actor and director The Love Match (1960) – By Glenn Melvyn, Adapted for a Northern Irish setting by Sam Cree (As Alec Galbraith) Wedding Fever (1960) – By Sam Cree (As Alec Galbraith) All the King's Horses (1961) – By John McDonnell (As William MacStay) Friends and Neighbours (1962) – By Austin Steele, Adapted for a Northern Irish setting by Young & John McDonnell (As Alec Galbraith) Love Locked Out (1963) – By David Kirk, Adapted for a Northern Irish setting by Young & John McDonnell (As Charlie Doherty) An Apple a Day (1963) – By John McDonnell (As Andy Adams) Wish You Were Here (1964) By John McDonnell (As Albert McFetridge) Silver Wedding (1964) By John McDonnell (As Alec Galbraith) Holiday Spirit (1965) By John McDonnell (As Harold Swann and Female Ghost) Sticks and Stones (1965) By John McDonnell (As William Thompson) Lucky Break (1966) – By John McDonnell (As Lucky Gallaher) The Wrong Fut (1966) By John McDonnell (As Alec Galbraith) Up the Long Ladder (1967) By John McDonnell (As Billy Bothwell) The Cat and the Fiddle (1971) By John McDonnell Stars of Brickfield Street By John Coulter Mountain Post (1948) – By George Shiels (As Albert Magellan) Bannister's Cafe (1949) – By Harry Sinton Gibson (As William McNinch) Master Adams By Patricia O'Connor (As John the Post) All Soul's Night (1949) – By Joseph Tomelty (As A Figure) A Title for Buxey (1949) – By Cecil Cree (Percy Todd) Arty (1951) – By J.R. Mageean & Ruddick Millar (As Arty)

Discography

Albums Young at Heart – (1966) Young and Foolish – (1967) It's Great to be Young – (1968) James Young's 4th – (1969) James Young Sings Ulster Party Pieces – (1969) Behind the Barricades – (1970) The Ballymena Cowboy – (1970) Very Much Live In Canada – (1971) The Young Ulsterman – (1973) James Young – (1975) Forever Young – (1988) The Very Best of James Young – (2001)

Singles I Protest / I’m the Only Catholic (On the Linfield Team) – (1966) The Wrong Fut / The BBC Investigate – (1966) Gerry's Walls / Smithfield Market, Belfast – (1967) Remember 1960 / Me Da – (1968) The Clyde Valley / Non Sectarian Football Team – (1969) Behind the Barricades / Ulster's Space Man – (1970) God Bless the working man / I Believe In Ulster – (1971)