Mourners have gathered for legendary cricket umpire Dickie Chook’s funeral after his loss of life aged 92.
Former gamers together with ex-England and Yorkshire batsmen Michael Vaughan and Sir Geoffrey Boycott have been amongst those that arrived to pay their respects at St Mary’s Church in Chook’s hometown of Barnsley.
Chook, who was maybe probably the most well-known official in any sport, died on September 22 sparking an outpouring of tributes.
As a cricketer, Chook performed 93 first-class matches as a batsman for Yorkshire and Leicestershire in a nine-year profession ended prematurely by damage in 1964.
Nevertheless it was as a global umpire that he made his title, finally standing in 66 Checks and 69 ODIs, together with three World Cup finals.
Amongst these current to pay their respects at this time was former England captain Vaughan.
After listening to information of his loss of life final month, Vaughan had shared a farewell message on social media, noting that it was ‘such a tragic loss’.
‘Mr Yorkshire will at all times be remembered,’ he added.
Harold ‘Dickie’ Chook died on the age of 92, Yorkshire Cricket Membership confirmed final month
Former England captain Michael Vaughan arrives at St Mary’s Church, Barnsley, for the funeral service of former cricket umpire Chook
Fellow mourners included ex-Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon, and Chook’s shut pal and former England batsman Sir Geoffrey Boycott who learn a eulogy in the course of the service.
‘I first met Dickie Chook after I was 15, on the time I used to be enjoying cricket for Hemsworth Grammar College,’ he mentioned, earlier than noting wryly: ‘He referred to as me Gerald for years.’
‘Surprisingly with all of the nerves he had as a batsman, he grew to become an ideal umpire as a result of he might channel all that nervous vitality into good selections,’ Boycott continued.
‘Dickie was refreshingly totally different. Eccentric however truthful. It might be arduous to seek out anybody who did not like him.’
In 2014, Chook was appointed president of Yorkshire Cricket Membership, and was a daily customer to county and worldwide matches at Headingley.
St Mary’s Church, Barnsley, performs host to the funeral service for Chook, who was born within the city
Followers left cricket balls among the many floral tributes to the participant by his bronze statue on Sunday
Ex-Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon and Chairperson of the England and Wales Cricket Board Colin Graves additionally paid their respects
The cortege drove via the streets of Barnsley earlier than arriving for the service at St Mary’s
Shut pal Sir Geoffrey Boycott learn one of many eulogies and paid tribute to Chook’s humour
The umpire handed away peacefully on the age of 92 after receiving each an OBE and MBE
Final month Yorkshire and Durham held a minute’s applause after studying of Chook’s passing
He funded the Dickie Chook Gamers’ Balcony with £125,000 of his personal money, in addition to providing monetary awards to younger gamers – with present England star Harry Brook amongst his beneficiaries.
At his remaining Take a look at match, between England and India at Lord’s in 1996, he acquired a guard of honour from each groups, earlier than going in opposition to his stereotype by giving Mike Atherton out lbw for a duck within the first over to Javagal Srinath.
A fervent royalist who claimed to have met the Queen 29 instances, he was made an MBE in 1986 and an OBE 26 years later, in recognition of his contribution to the game.
Identified for his good humour in his particular person officiating model, Chook was deservedly known as a ‘nationwide treasure’ in an announcement shared by Yorkshire within the wake of his loss of life.
‘Dickie Chook grew to become a nationwide treasure, recognized not just for his umpiring excellence but additionally for his eccentricities and heat,’ the assertion learn.
