19 Apr 1933 - 22 Sep 2025 (92 years)

Harold Dennis "Dickie" Bird OBE was an English cricketer and international cricket umpire. During his long umpiring career, he became a well regarded figure among players and the viewing public, not only due to his high standards as an umpire but also for humour and eccentricity.

Bird played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and Leicestershire as a right-handed batsman, but only scored two centuries in 93 appearances. His career was blighted by a knee injury, which eventually forced him to retire at the age of 31. He umpired in 66 Test matches (at the time a world record) and 69 One Day Internationals, including three World Cup Finals. Bird's autobiography, "My Autobiography" (with a foreword by Michael Parkinson), published in 1997, sold more than a million copies.
A sequel titled "White Cap and Bails – Adventures of a Much Travelled Umpire" was published in 1999 by Hodder and Stoughton.
Bird set up the Dickie Bird Foundation to help disadvantaged under-18s achieve their potential in sport.

Bird was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1986 and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to cricket and charity. Bird also received honorary doctorates from Huddersfield, Leeds and Sheffield Hallam Universities. He was awarded the Freedom of Barnsley in 2000 and Honorary Life Membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1996.

On 30 June 2009 Bird unveiled a life-sized bronze statue of himself, by fellow Barnsley resident Graham Ibbeson, erected in his honour, near his birthplace in Barnsley. In 2013 it was subsequently raised by adding a 5-foot (1.5 m) plinth, in order to discourage late-night revellers from hanging inappropriate items on the famous finger.

On his pending appointment as President of Yorkshire CCC in 2014, Bird stated "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would become the president of the greatest cricket club in the world".

In August 2014, Bird was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian expressing their hope that Scotland would vote to remain part of the United Kingdom in September's referendum on that issue.

In March 2021, Bird spoke to the BBC about his loneliness while shielding during the COVID-19 lockdown. He said that exercise was the key to him keeping his spirits up.

Bird died at his home on 22 September 2025, aged 92. Following the announcement of his death, tributes were paid across the sporting world and public life. Yorkshire County Cricket Club described him as "one of the greatest characters in Yorkshire's history." Mayor of Barnsley Dave Leech called him "a global sporting icon, a wonderful ambassador for Barnsley, and a friend to anyone he met." Former Prime Minister David Cameron called Bird "a national treasure." Former England cricketer Sir Geoffrey Boycott, a friend of Bird's for over 70 years, described him as "respected, admired and loved." He added, "Dickie was a character and he was always fun."