Dickie Bird dies aged 92: Tributes paid to iconic former umpire

Among those to pay tribute to Bird was former Prime Minister David Cameron who said: “He was a national treasure and I was fortunate to have shared some hugely enjoyable times with him over the years.

“At 92 he had a good innings. Farewell friend.”

Bird’s sister Marjorie Wyatt said: “Dickie was always proud of putting Barnsley on the map – he was Barnsley through and through.

“He was very caring and used to bring us home souvenirs.

“I would wash his cricket whites and his famous white flat cap, and he always appreciated that they would be immaculate and he would be turned out the best.

“What I will remember most about him was that he was always good at making decisions!”

Former England captain David Gower said Bird will be “remembered as one of the best umpires ever to take the field”.

“He certainly set himself high standards as an umpire, but that smile on his face at all times – whether he’s giving you out or not out, whatever he was doing out in the middle – you just knew that Dickie was in the place that he loved best,” Gower told the BBC.

“He was just a very, very good umpire. He had a sense of humour. He had the ability in his own very quirky and slightly barmy way of being able to get on with everyone.

“Everyone respected him immensely for what he was on the field, and he was the most likeable man off it.

“Umpiring gave him the opportunity to stay in the game that he’d loved from childhood.”

Boycott said: “When I was 15 and taken to Barnsley Cricket Club by my Uncle Algy, I was in awe of him because every week Dickie was the star batsman and he made a half-century to get a collection.

“He was a very good technical batsman but nerves got the better of him when he stepped up to play for Yorkshire and he could never quite hold down a place in the first team.

“When he became a first-class umpire he was absolutely brilliant. He made light of his nerves – even channelled them into making a success of umpiring.

“Players all over the world respected and admired him for his firmness, fairness, and he did it with a sense of humour.”

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen described Bird as an “absolute legend of English cricket”.

“May you rest in peace knowing that you were loved by all,” Pietersen said. “I had so many amazing moments with Dickie. A remarkable character that will be missed dearly!”

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