Dickie Bird pays genuine homage to his ‘real friend’ Sir Michael Parkinson, who made one of his last public looks prior to his death at the umpire’s 90-year-old’s birthday celebration
Dickie Bird paid a sincere homage to his ‘real friend’ Sir Michael Parkinson on Thursday after the television talk reveal icon passed away aged 88.
Parky, a long-lasting Yorkshire fan who as soon as had trials for the club, made one of his last public looks at Headingley in April when he participated in Bird’s 90th birthday celebration.
‘There will never ever be another like Parky, he was the very best,’ said famous umpire Bird, who played cricket with him as a teen for Barnsley.
‘I will definitely miss him. We’ve been pals given that he was 14. We were so close. He was constantly there for me, and it will take me a long time to overcome this.
‘When he concerned my 90th, he wasn’t well, however he came. He just sounded me the other early morning. I said, “You keep going lad”, and he said, “No, you keep going”. I understood he wasn’t well, I understood it referred time. But I’m still shocked. It’s extremely sad.’
Yorkshire on Thursday honoured Parkinson with a minute’s silence prior to their One-Day Cup match versus Hampshire at York.
Darren Gough, the club’s handling director, said: ‘He was a Barnsley boy, like myself, and it was an outright satisfaction to understand him and his family.
‘We are all ravaged here at Yorkshire and the ideas of everybody at the club are with Sir Michael’s friends and family at this sad time.’
Parkinson frequently talked to super stars from the world of sport on his BBC talk program, with significant visitors consisting of Muhammad Ali, George Best, Shane Warne and David Beckham.
His football group, Barnsley, likewise paid their aspects on Thursday. ‘The town has actually lost among its preferred kids, and our ideas are with his friends and family at this time,’ the League One club said in a declaration.
