Legendary cricket umpire Dickie Bird, who passed away last September at the age of 92, left behind a fortune of nearly £4 million, according to documents obtained by The Sun.
Born Harold Dennis Bird, the Barnsley native’s gross estate totalled £3,940,504, a figure that was reduced to £3,900,473 once taxes, outstanding debts and administrative costs had been deducted.
The entirety of his wealth was placed into a discretionary trust, granting his trustees the authority to determine how the funds are allocated among designated beneficiaries.
Bird’s 11-page will was signed in January 2024, with the High Court issuing a grant last week.
Dickie Bird forged a career in officiating that made him a household name far beyond cricketing circles | GETTY
His executors were named as Andrew Goodchild and his niece Rachel Wyatt, with Alan Methley serving as an additional trustee.
Rather than bequeathing specific amounts to individuals, Bird opted to leave the distribution entirely at his trustees’ discretion.
Those eligible to receive from the trust include his sister Marjorie Wyatt, niece Rachel Wyatt along with her children, and close friend Graham Varger and his offspring.
The will also made provision for charitable giving, stipulating that funds could be directed to any charitable organisations selected by the trustees.
Bird had requested that his funeral take place at St Mary’s Church in Barnsley, the South Yorkshire town where he grew up, and expressed his wish to be cremated.
The beloved umpire, who earned his famous nickname during his school days, never married and had no children of his own, though he later expressed regret at not having started a family.
Dickie Bird pictured back in 2022 | GETTY
Bird’s career in professional county cricket spanned the 1950s and 1960s, beginning with a three-year stint at Yorkshire before moving to Leicestershire for another three seasons. A capable batsman who scored two first-class centuries, he retired from playing at 32.
His subsequent move into umpiring proved transformative. He went on to officiate in 66 Test matches and 69 One Day Internationals, standing in three Cricket World Cup finals along the way.
His services to the sport were recognised with an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 2012. He claimed to have met Queen Elizabeth II on no fewer than 29 occasions, while King Charles personally unveiled a statue of Bird in Barnsley that same year.
Among his notable friendships were former Prime Minister John Major, broadcaster Michael Parkinson and billionaire John Paul Getty.
Following his retirement from officiating in 1998, Bird remained a familiar presence at Headingley in Leeds, where one end of the ground now bears his name. He also appeared on television panel shows, took a cameo role in ITV’s Heartbeat, and wrote an autobiography.
Sir Geoffrey Boycott, who had known Bird for seven decades, led the tributes to his fellow Yorkshireman.
“He was a very good technical batsman but nerves got the better of him when he stepped up to play for Yorkshire,” Boycott wrote.
“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.”
Former Prime Minister David Cameron described Bird as “a national treasure,” adding: “At 92 he had a good innings. Farewell friend.”
