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Dickie Bird MBE
I thoroughly enjoy my yearly visit to Alconbury and umpiring the Charity Cricket Match for Mrs Major. Mrs Major really does a very splendid job in organising the day and many thousands of pounds have been raised for charity.
Everyone who is invited to the Match has a wonderful day, and it is always a great pleasure to meet up with old and new friends year by year.
I spent a wonderful day on Friday 16 July 1999 at Alconbury where I umpired Norma Major’s XI v Bunbury XI for Mencap. It was a great day and the match ended in a tie. I think the scores were 350 to each team.
I t was here that I saw that great captain David English come into action. With Norma Major’s XI on 250 for no wicket, after the opening batsman had seen off Wasim Akram of Pakistan and Paul Taylor of Northants and England. David decided to bring that great Donkey Drop bowler on, Joe Cuby, and he played tricks with Donkey Drops, that went higher than a space ship. He put Charlie Palmer, the old Leicestershire cricketer to shame, he once bowled Surrey out at Leicestershire with Donkey Drops. Joe turned the game with balls that dropped on to the off stump.
With that, David removed him from the attack, to give the batting side a chance. With my advice, that great captain, English, brought Lloyd Honeyghan into the attack, and removed him from the attack after one over, ‘poor soul’, he had only gone for 26.
I was very impressed with the fielding that day. Graham Kelly fielded magnificently at mid on, where they were running threes to him, and it was not his fault the ball kept going through his legs.
The captain asked Rod Farrant to take his sweater after two balls because he thought he was throwing the ball.
It was nice to see Brian lose and David Steele still playing. Steele has not changed much, he asked me if I could lend him something. “He did not buy a drink’. They could not get Brian out, he retired, “Old Age”.
It was nice to see John Kettley, he said it would rain because I was umpiring. I told him the sun would shine, and it did. He did not last long when he was batting, Joe did him with a Donkey Drop.
I thought it was a tremendous piece of captaincy by David English to keep the batting team down to 350 for 1 wicket. “Well done David”.
It was very sad when the day came to the end. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by everyone. It was so nice to see all the celebrities there from all walks of life. Well done to them all for giving up their time to help a tremendous cause. I think we made a bob or two for Mencap. Well done lads.
I enjoyed my day. It was very nice to be out there in the middle once again with all those stars.
I thought one of the funniest parts of the day was when Joe bowled his first ball which was hit for four. I shouted “Take him off”, to a tremendous moan and laughter from the crowd. It was a day I will always cherish and remember.
I am looking forward to umpiring the Match again for Mrs Major on 7 July and of course for many years to come if my health allows.