Dickie Bird brought the rain to Headingley yesterday when he was officiating in his last first class match in the championship clash between Yorkshire and Warwickshire.

And the downpour was so fierce that it put back a presentation before the start of a portrait of Dickie by artist George Sharp. It was being made by Yorkshire president Sir Lawrence Byford on behalf of the club.

As the world's most famous umpire paced around nervously he admitted that he had a big lump in his throat and a tear in his eye.

"It is exactly 50 years ago that I first came to Headingley as a schoolboy to practice in the Yorkshire nets and it is most appropriate that I should end my career here," said Dickie.

He admitted to being up at six o'clock this morning and being quite nervous but said he was overwhelmed by all the messages he had already received from well-wishers.

"My telephone never stopped ringing before I left home in Barnsley and it is marvellous that everyone should think so much of me," he said.

Dickie, who umpired in a world record 66 Test matches and 93 one-day internationals, said his greatest memories were of standing in three World Cup finals and of receiving the MBE from the Queen in 1986 "which means more to me than anything else."

Noted for his problems with the weather and particularly the blocked drain incident in the 1991 Test match against the West Indies at Headingley, it was somehow in keeping that a downpour should hit the ground half-an-hour before yesterday's schedule starting time.

Officiating with Dickie was umpire Ray Julian who paid tribute to his colleague.

"We played in the same Leicestershire team together and we have had a long association as umpires," said Julian.

"I remember what a nervous wreck he was before going in to bat and how often he had to go to the toilet, but he is a real credit to the game and what he has done for cricket and umpires is first class.

"It is a privilege to do the last match with him. He can be difficult to umpire with but I know him well and will be able to guide him along."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.