Dickie Bird’s Funeral October 19th 2025

Neil Whitaker reports

THE great and the good of Yorkshire cricket came to Barnsley to pay their final respects to former umpire Harold Dennis Bird or just ‘Dickie’ who died in his sleep last month.

Yorkshire cricket club Chairman Colin Graves gave an Eulogy as did Dickie’s former teammate at Barnsley cricket club Sir Geoffrey Boycott.  Boycott’s brilliant eulogy was applauded by the packed congregation. Former England Captain Michael Vaughan and former Yorkshire captain’s  Martyn Moxon, David Byas and Steve Patterson with past players including Geoff Cope, Gavin Hamilton and Kevin Sharp also attended. 

The world of politics was  represented by MP’s Dan Jarvis, Stephanie Peacock and Marie Tidball, the mayor of Barnsley Cllr  David Leach and the leader of Barnsley Council Steve Houghton  joined the packed  congregation at St Mary’s church only yard’s away from Dickie’s statue.  Also in attendance was television sports commentator John Helm. The service was relayed to the hundreds standing in the rain who were unable to get in.

The service which was planned by Dickie ended with Frank Sinatra singing ‘My Way’ as the funeral courtage headed for Barnsley Crematorium for a private service.