The funeral of cricket umpire Dickie Bird is taking place in Barnsley
Bird died at the age of 92 on 22 September
A service will take place at 14:00 BST at St Mary's Church, followed by a private family-only cremation
There will also be a wake at Barnsley Town Hall, attended by well-known faces from the world of sport
The organist for the service at St Mary's Church today is Major David Matthews, who will be playing the Elgar composition Land of Hope and Glory.
"Dickie would love that," he says.
Image source, BBC/Tom IngallSt Mary's Church organist Major David Matthews
To mark the anniversary of VE Day, Dickie shared his childhood memories of World War Two.
The retired Yorkshire cricket umpire chats to our VE Day reporter Niall about his childhood memories of World War Two.
Dickie Bird was born in Barnsley in 1933 and began his playing career at Yorkshire before moving to Leicestershire, though he is best known for his legendary umpiring career.
Here's a glimpse of his long life in pictures.
Image source, PA Media
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, David Cheskin/PA Wire
Image source, Anthony Devlin/PA WireDuring the pandemic Dickie shielded for more than a year - cutting down his social contact.
Aged 88, he spoke to the BBC and explained the challenges he had faced and how difficult it was.
His honest portrayal resonated with social media users and the interview went viral, being viewed millions of times.
Bird shared his secrets of a long and healthy life with the BBC when he turned 90 two years ago.
The former international cricket umpire Dicke Bird died on 22 September at the age of 92.
His long life, passion for his home town of Barnsley and his love of sport are all likely to feature during today's funeral service at St Mary's Church.
The service will begin at 14:00 and will be followed by a private family cremation at Barnsley Crematorium.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe are a couple of road closures during the service, including a temporary road closure on St Mary’s Gate throughout the day.
There will also be a short closure on Church Lane at around 13:45 as the funeral procession pauses for a brief moment of reflection by Bird’s statue before proceeding to the church.
Dickie Bird had asked that his funeral was held on a weekend so people could attend if they wish.
Organisers have said there might be some limited seating available inside the church once members of the family and invited guests are seated.
However, the service will be broadcast on loudspeakers so that the crowds outside the church can follow along.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlthough known to the world as Dickie, Bird's first name was actually Harold.
He got the nickname from a fellow pupil at Barnsley's Raley Secondary Modern School - it stuck for life.
A dickie bird is Cockney rhyming slang for "word" - as in, "I haven't heard a dickie bird". It can also be a child's name for a small bird.
Bird grew up playing club cricket with legendary England batsman Sir Geoffrey Boycott and journalist and TV host Sir Michael Parkinson.
They were friendships which would last a lifetime.
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking when Bird's death was announced, Sir Geoffrey said he had known him for "nearly 70 years as a friend".
"Players all over the world respected and admired him for his firmness, fairness and he did it with a sense of humour.
"He was loved by so many and became a legend," he said.
Image source, Getty ImagesParkinson's son, Mike, also paid tribute and said they were "very similar people" in that they "couldn't quite believe where they had come from".
"If you think about those two young men sitting together at the end of play, there's no way they could've imagined where they would end up," Mr Parkinson added.