Image source, Getty Images

We are now ending our live coverage of tributes to umpire Dickie Bird, who has died aged 92.

Here's a recap:

• Tributes have poured in from fellow sportspeople, cricket lovers and residents of his home town, Barnsley
• Bird's home county side Yorkshire, for whom he played and served as president, described him as a "national treasure, known not only for his umpiring excellence but also for his eccentricities and warmth"
• Charities such as Barnsley Hospital Charity called Dickie a "a true legend and friend", after he was known to make generous donations
• Barnsley Football Club says it will be holding a minute's applause before this evening's match to pay tribute to Dickie

To follow this story, you can read more here.

Image source, Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com

Former Yorkshire chief executive Mark Arthur said Dickie was a "great friend to everybody in cricket".

Mr Arthur, who had known Dickie since the 1990s, described him as a "kind and generous man" who donated much of his earnings to charity.

“He was always very nervous before a test match and some of his colleagues found that quite difficult," Mr Arthur said.

"He would arrive at the ground incredibly early, as everybody knows he always arrived early for everything.

"But as soon as he got out into the middle, he was in complete control.

"He was a friend of the players, he used his humour and his intellect to calm down any situations and he was revered around the world."

You can listen to more of Mr Arthur's tribute here.

Image source, CHSF

Dickie was also known to have given £55,000 to the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF), of which he was an ambassador.

The fund raises money for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and the region’s supporting hospitals.

Andy McNally, head of marketing at CHSF said: "He spread our cause far and wide in regional media through his contagious Yorkshire persona, and took time out of his diary to visit the children’s heart ward in Leeds on numerous occasions to lift everyone’s spirits.

"He was a very down-to-earth guy with real charisma, he knew exactly when to turn it on for the public and press. Dickie was a real Yorkshire legend."

The Bard of Barnsley Ian McMillan said people from the town "loved the fact he [Dickie] stayed here".

"Some people moved away from Barnsley and still talked about it, whereas Dickie lived in Barnsley," the poet said.

"I think if you live there, you can talk about it, you can be part of it, you would see him walking up and down the street.

“He was proud, he was patriotic, in the end he was proud of the country but he was proud of Barnsley.

"He said ‘not bad for a lad from Barnsley’ and that’s what we liked about him, he was from Barnsley and liked it."

Listen above to Ian's poem in tribute to Dickie.

Whether he was drinking a cup of tea in the cold or rubbing shoulders with rock and roll legends, Dickie's face always painted a picture.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Barnsley Football Club says it will be holding a minute's applause before this evening's match to pay tribute to Dickie.

The Reds, who are due to face Premier League Brighton in the EFL Cup at Oakwell, said the former umpire was in the ground watching his team only 10 days ago.

Jon Flatman, Barnsley FC CEO, said, “Barnsley has today lost a legend of the sporting world. Dickie had an incredible life, and Barnsley, as a town and football club, meant a lot to him.

“He was defiantly passionate about his roots here in Barnsley and his journey, which led him to become one of the most famous cricket umpires in the world.

"All of our thoughts at the club go to Dickie’s family and those closest to him at this difficult time."

The club added: "Once a Red, Always a Red. Rest in peace, Dickie."

Image source, Barnsley Hospital Charity

Dickie Bird was well-known for supporting local good causes, including Barnsley Hospital Charity.

Writing in a post on Facebook, the charity said Dickie was "a true legend and friend".

"Dickie’s unwavering support for our Tiny Hearts Appeal reached an extraordinary milestone when he donated a staggering £100,000, helping us cross the £1m target to support our state-of-the-art neonatal unit for premature babies," it added.

Talkling about his donation at the time in 2020, Dickie said: “The reason I have given £100,000 is simply because I don’t think it could go to a better cause…

"When I’ve seen little babies that are so poorly… I’ve had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.

"It brings me so much pleasure to see these same babies growing up fit and well.”

Broadcaster and former Number 10 spin doctor Alastair Campbell said he was "really sad to hear of Dickie Bird’s passing".

Campbell, who was also born in Yorkshire, said: "He was best known as a great cricket umpire and a big character in the game."

Posting on social media platform X, he wrote: "About 20 years ago I invited him to London for a fundraising event I was hosting. My mum, then in her 80s, was also there.

"Dickie worked out her train journey home would stop on the London-Leeds line at Retford.

"He not only took her to KX, but got off the train at Retford to make sure she was met and taken home, thereby having to wait for the next train to Leeds. RIP."

Tom Ingall
BBC News in Barnsley

In Barnsley, myself and other media are assembled at the statue of Dickie Bird in the town centre.

Image source, Tom Ingall/BBC

I spoke to the statue's creator, sculptor Graham Ibbeson, earlier and he told me that Dickie was "Barnsley through and through".

"He seemed like a really gentle soul, a kind of daft uncle, dare I say it.

"It was like a punch in the stomach this morning, it's like losing a close friend."

Image source, Tom Ingall/BBC

Former England captain Sir Geoffrey Boycott paid tribute to a friend he had known for more than half a century.

Image source, Getty Images

Writing on X the fellow Yorkshireman said: "I have known Dickie nearly 70 years as a friend.

"When I was 15 I was taken to Barnsley Cricket Club by my Uncle Algy.

"I was in awe of him because every week Dickie was the star batsman and he made a half century to get a collection.

"He was a very good technical batsman but nerves got the better of him when he stepped up to play for YCCC and he could never quite hold down a place in the first team."

He added: "Surprising to those that knew him well, when he became a first class umpire he was absolutely brilliant.

"He made light of his nerves, even channelled them into making a success of umpiring.

"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.

"RIP Dickie".

Cricket legends from India, Australia and England have paid tribute to Dickie, describing him as a legend of the sport.

Former India spin-bowler Anil Kumble said: "Cricket lost one of its brightest souls. Dickie Bird didn’t just umpire the game - he owned it with heart, wit and class. Rest in peace, legend."

Another ex-Indian national team cricketer Dinesh Karthik said Dickie would be "remembered for your fairness, integrity, humour, and true Yorkshire spirit".

Merv Hughes, the former Australian cricketer pictured below, said Dickie was "one of the best" umpires "and a great bloke as well".

Former England international Kevin Pietersen said: "Dickie Bird, you absolute legend of English cricket. May you rest in peace knowing that you were loved by all.

"I had so many amazing moments with Dickie. A remarkable character that will be missed dearly."

Image source, David Davies/Offside via Getty Images

Image source, John Giles

Sculptor Graham Ibbeson cast a sculpture of Dickie - which stands in his home town of Barnsley - more than a decade ago.

He said a friend had called him to tell him the news earlier, adding: "He was a close friend of most of the population of Barnsley so word got around pretty quickly.

"When I cast the sculpture 14 years ago, I said 'your hand should be straight' - he said, 'no, I want it bent with the finger up!'.

"Even King Charles, when he came to see the sculpture, he said, 'is the finger the right way?' And I said, 'oh yes, that's what he used to do!'."

During 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.

Image source, Getty Images

"He was one of those umpires to whom mishaps would occur. Bad light would always seem to come when Dickie was umpiring.

"At Headingley, the whole ground flooded one time because of a problem with the drainage system. Dickie Bird was umpiring.

"He didn't give a lot out, especially LBWs. He was always quite safe and secure.

"All the players loved him. He was brilliant at defusing situations on the field.

"Fast bowlers like Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson - these big, aggressive characters - there could be some argy bargy on the field at times and yet they completely respected Dickie Bird.

"If he stepped in and said, 'c'mon lads, let's get on with the game', they stopped and got on with the game. He was massively respected. He was loved.

"He never married. Cricket was his life - his whole life. He just loved cricket.

"He was eccentric. If you are so devoted to anything there is probably some element of eccentricity about you and, in Dickie's case, it was cricket.

"He was a good player. He was always very nervous as a player - he'd be shaking, trembling and terribly anxious.

"He didn't have many shots as a batsman and got moved on from Yorkshire and came to Leicestershire.

"He just belonged out there with his white coat and white cap."

Writing on X, broadcaster Piers Morgan said: "RIP Dickie Bird, 92. The greatest and most legendary umpire in cricket history, and a truly wonderful character.

"He loved the game with a rare all-consuming passion, and the game loved this brilliantly professional, ebullient, emotional and perfectionist Yorkshireman.

"Sad news."

Dickie Bird was not only dedicated to cricket - he was also a passionate supporter of Barnsley Football Club.

He was supporting his team just 10 days before his death at their 3-2 victory against Reading.

Jon Flatman, Barnsley FC chief executive officer, said: "Barnsley has today lost a legend of the sporting world.

"Dickie had an incredible life, and Barnsley, as a town and football club, meant a lot to him.

“He was defiantly passionate about his roots here in Barnsley and his journey, which led him to become one of the most famous cricket umpires in the world.

"All of our thoughts at the club go to Dickie’s family and those closest to him at this difficult time."

Image source, Howard Walker/Mirrorpix via Getty Images

Although known to the world as Dickie, Bird's first name was actually Harold.

He got the moniker when a pupil at school.

He was at Barnsley's Raley Secondary Modern, after failing his 11 Plus exam, and a fellow pupil gave him the name - which stuck for the rest of his life.

And for those who don't know, 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.

Dickie Bird dedicated his life to cricket and was a proud Yorkshireman.

Born in Barnsley in 1933, his legacy as a legendary cricket umpire had been cemented long before his death.

Here is a look of Dickie Bird's life in pictures.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Wire

Image source, Adrian Murrell/Allsport/Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Former prime minister David Cameron has described Dickie Bird as a national treasure and a friend in a post on X following his death.

"So very sorry to hear that the great Dickie Bird has pulled stumps," the former prime minister wrote.

"He was a national treasure and I was fortunate to have shared some hugely enjoyable times with him over the years.

"At 92 he had a good innings. Farewell friend."

Image source, Stu Forster/Getty Images

BBC Yorkshire's Look North met up with Bird on his 90th birthday to find out how he was faring.

As well as a laugh and a smile, one point of the chat gave the famously emotional umpire a lump in his throat.