Dickie Bird memorabilia to be auctioned

More than 150 items from the personal collection of Yorkshire cricket umpire Dickie Bird will be auctioned off next week.

Born in Barnsley in 1933, Bird became known as an unflinching umpire who went on to officiate three World Cup finals.

Among the items listed, international caps from Australian cricketer Geoff Marsh are hoped to fetch £3,500 while the West Indies cap from Barbadian Joel Garner is estimated to sell for upwards of £1,500.

Bird's team sheets, scorecards, match-worn blazers, family portraits and more than 200 match ties are also part of the sale.

Bird played cricket for both Leicestershire and his home county of Yorkshire, where he was a right-handed batsman.

A knee injury forced him to retire at the comparatively early age of 31, but he was keen to stay in the sport.

By the 1970s, the Barnsley man was a regular on the wickets of England, sporting his iconic white knee-length umpire's jacket as he did so.

In 1986, Bird was appointed an MBE before being awarded an OBE in 2012.

After a long career in cricket, gaining affection for his humour and eccentricity, Bird died last year at the age of 92.

He had remained living in Barnsley his entire life.

After news of his death, Yorkshire County Cricket Club said he left behind "a legion of admirers across generations".

Bird's niece, Rachel Wyatt, said it was a lengthy process to sift through her uncle's memorabilia before sending items to auction.

"It took a long time, we're still trying to sort out a lot. It's not easy!" she said.

Wyatt said the items showed the breadth of countries he worked with, including Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan.

She said the lots have links to 53 countries and the family hoped fans from all over the world would have the chance to bid for them.

Wyatt, whose mother is Bird's sister, said "memorable" photos - such as those from Bird's 70th and 80th birthdays and those taken at Buckingham Palace when Bird picked up his OBE - would remain in the family.

Despite the two honours, Wyatt said Bird wished he had been knighted.

"That was his wish. I think he should have been, but there we go," she added.

A year on from his death, Wyatt is now planning to honour one of Bird's dying wishes and put his ashes inside the commemorative statue in Barnsley.

"There's only one Dickie Bird, I don't think there will be another.

"He was a lovely person, I went up to clean for him and took him meals. He was still down to earth, a Barnsley man.

"I'm just so proud, he put so much into his umpiring career and he was the best in the world."

Ted Alabaster, specialist at auctioneers Budds, said he had worked closely with the family of Bird.

"They've been a massive help and it is a real privilege to have these items," he said.

The 167-strong collection range from items during the early days of his county cricket career to his "long and storied" career as an umpire, Alabaster said.

Several umpire coats, which Bird wore while officiating his 66 Test series, 76 one-day internationals and three World Cup finals, are also up for sale.

Alabaster said the jackets had garnered real interest.

"They show him as a figure of the personification of fairness and integrity as part of English cricket.

"Bird was a trusted figure, respected and recognised across the world - the collection is a reflection of his passion for cricket and his many years of service."

The 167 items from the Dickie Bird collection will go under the hammer on 21 July.

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