Video: Dickie Bird: receiving an OBE left a lump in my throat Bird, 79, from Barnsley, was recognised for his sporting career and also his charity work, establishing his Dickie Bird Foundation to help underprivileged youngsters. "I felt very humble when I walked into Buckingham Palace," said the Yorkshireman after he received an OBE from the Prince of Wales. Very humble, very homered, delighted and thrilled. It follows my MBE which I got in 1986 which is a long time ago. He also played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and Leicestershire in his younger days and went on to enjoy a 23-year career as an international umpire before stepping down in 1996. The OBE was also given in recognition of his charity work. In March 2004, he started the Dickie Bird Foundation with the aim of helping disadvantaged young people to participate in sport. I'm the son of a coalminer, and proud of it, and had it not been for sport, cricket, I could have followed my father down the coal mine. And it was that which gave me the idea of the Dickie Bird Foundation.