Former Elworth Cricket Club chairman and avid cricket fan, Ron Davies, has paid tribute to legendary cricket umpire Dickie Bird who has died.

Ron, who was chairan of Elworth for six years recalled memories of Dickie Bird, 92, who died on Monday (22 September).

He said: "Dickie Bird was not just a great umpire, he was a real cricket man and when a real cricket man is also a Yorkshire man the outcome can be very special.

Former Elworth Cricket Club chairman, Ron Davies, has paid homage to Dickie Bird. (Photo: Ron Davies)

"Dickie was a remarkable man. Some felt he could be overly fussy and pedantic, but nobody questioned his integrity.

"Players generally thought very highly of him. The Australian fast bowler, Len Pascoe told about the time he was accused of throwing by Ted Dexter, England's chair of selectors.

Ron Davies was chairman of Elworth Cricket Club in Sandbach for six years but now lives in Suffolk. (Photo: Nub News)

"When the teams were entering the field for the next test match, Dickie fell in alongside Pascoe and said, "don't you worry, you're not a chucker I won't be calling you.

"'He didn't have to say anything,' Pascoe recalled, 'but he quietly calmed everything down.' That was Dickie, a reet good 'un."

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