Dickie Bird’s funeral was held at St Mary’s Church in Barnsley. Sir Geoffrey Boycott delivered a tribute, describing Bird as one of cricket’s most respected umpires. Bird died last month aged 92 and was born Harold Dennis Bird, the man known to fans by his nickname.

Family and friends from the Yorkshire cricket circle attended, including Michael Vaughan, Martyn Moxon, David Byas, Geoff Cope and Gavin Hamilton. Boycott and Yorkshire chair Colin Graves took turns speaking about Bird’s career and his character. Bird retired from playing at 32 and went on to stand in a then-record 66 Test matches, plus 69 ODIs and three World Cup finals. He was noted for forming positive relationships with players and for his distinctive, amiable manner.

During the service, the coffin entered to music by Edward Elgar and departed to Frank Sinatra’s My Way. It was topped with Bird’s white flat cap and a floral cricketing tribute, with flags representing Test-playing nations. The service included readings by Yorkshire club chaplain Chris Edmondson and a recording of a poem by Ian McMillan. The funeral cortege paused at the Dickie Bird statue in Barnsley before continuing to St Mary’s. Donations will be shared between the Dickie Bird Foundation, HOPE South Yorkshire and the neonatal unit at Barnsley Hospital. Graves paid tribute to Bird as a national and Yorkshire treasure, saying what people saw in him was what they got.