THE late, great Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird - who was laid to rest on Sunday - deserves to be awarded with a posthumous knighthood, according to his former councillor friend who clocked up almost half a century in politics.
When Jeff Ennis was elected as a councillor in Barnsley in 1980 he was just 27 - and after 44 years’ service he decided to retire from his role of serving the borough.
However, he’s now spearheading a campaign to ensure his dear friend of more than three decades - Dickie - finally receives ‘what he deserves’.
Dickie, one of cricket’s most popular figures, died on September 22 aged 92 but Jeff’s hoping the public will back his bid for the knighthood to be given.
“I still can’t believe he didn’t receive a deserved knighthood during his life,” Jeff told the Chronicle.
“Dickie was one of a trio of cricketers who started out with Barnsley Cricket Club at the same time.
“The other two were Sir Michael Parkinson and Sir Geoffrey Boycott - Dickie is the only one of the trio not to have been knighted.
“We need to, as the Barnsley community, get that oversight rectified.
“All three deserve knighthoods but only two have them - Geoffrey’s was given for services to cricket, Michael’s was given for his service to the media, but Dickie should have one for his service to cricket, too, as he was undoubtedly the world’s greatest umpire.
“The fact of the matter is that we need a groundswell of support which we surely will get given what Dickie did both in his career and afterwards - his support of local charities.
“I am hopeful of gaining widespread support from the council, Barnsley Hospital and our MPs.
“Dickie did so much for our local community and while it’s rare to be given a posthumous knighthood, a number of military personnel have been given one.
“It can be done, if the public show the support that it’s deserved.”
The iconic Barnsley cricket umpire - whose death has seen tributes pour in from around the world - struck up a unique bond with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after their first meeting at a test match at Trent Bridge in 1977.
He went on to meet her on 29 occasions and said that the two wrote to each other frequently.
Dickie once arrived outside the gates of Buckingham Palace at 8.45am for a 1pm lunch because he was worried about being late.
At her personal request, he was asked to umpire cricket matches that raised money for one of the Queen’s favourite charities which supported injured jockeys.
Upon hearing of her death in 2022, Dickie told the Chronicle that there were tears in his eyes and said that there will ‘never be anyone quite like her’.
He said the proudest day of his life was when he was invited for a private lunch with Her Majesty.
It’s this connection - as well as the public’s support - that he hopes will inspire the late Queen’s son, King Charles, to oversee Dickie’s posthumous knighthood.
“I’ve been a very close personal friend to Dickie over the last three decades,” Jeff added.
“Indeed I took him out for his very last public appearance before he passed - on September 20 I took him for our annual trip to Doncaster Racecourse’s St Leger meeting.
“He loved the experience every year.
“Whilst we were there we were invited to watch his beloved Barnsley Football Club play Doncaster Rovers on November 8 in the directors’ box.
“We’ve been there previously but not for some time because Doncaster have been in a lower division than us for a number of years.
“Dickie was really looking forward to the match and that’s what upsets me so much at his passing just now.
“I hope people support my campaign - the late Queen Elizabeth II loved Dickie’s company and invited him to a number of private dinners in both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
“I’m sure our present King Charles, who presented me with my OBE , will be very sympathetic to our cause.”
