Biography

Dickie Bird was born on April 19, 1933 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001), Heartbeat (1992) and Wisden Trophy (1963). He died on September 22, 2025 in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England.

British Umpire for Cricket

An average county cricketer with Yorkshire and Leicestershire he became an outstanding county umpire following his retirement from playing in 1964. He became a test match umpire in 1973 and before his enforced retirement in 1998, had umpired 66 Tests and 69 One-Day Internationals.

He was awarded an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honors List for his services to Cricket.

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2012 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Cricket and to Charity.

Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England

In March 2004, he set up the Dickie Bird Foundation. Its aim was to help financially disadvantaged young people across the United Kingdom to participate in the sport of their choice by assisting with the costs of equipment, clothing and travel.

[1 August 2025] It's not easy to live on your own at this age, but I carry on the best I can. I never married, and got myself married to cricket. But if I missed anything in life is getting married and having a little lad, who would have probably also played cricket.

I haven't had a bad life really. Seeing the world and met some good people. Prime ministers, kings, queens. I never thought I'd do that when I were a schoolboy, son of a coal-miner. It's been amazing.