As Nottingham's festival of Test Match cricket rolled into town, a select few were treated to an audience with the world-famous former umpire Dickie Bird.
From the outset he revelled in tales from the very earliest days of young men's dreams playing with Geoff Boycott and Michael Parkinson as teenagers. He still seems genuinely surprised – and proud – that the trio all made it into the national consciousness.
Harold D Bird OBE is a national treasure. Compere John Gwynne told us so, but he didn't really need to.
More frail than we remember him, Dickie explained how he'd had a serious stroke six years ago – one which debilitated him, robbed him of movement both on the right and left of his body, and left him both depressed and anxious.
In fact the most obvious sign of the stroke now is an affliction Dickie identifies as "emotion". Several times during this intimate evening his voice cracked and he welled up with emotion, unable to go on overcome the realisation of his achievements and by the adoration of fans who turned out to The Approach the night before the Trent Bridge Test to hear his words of wisdom.
We learned he can name 30 better cricketers than his old pal Boycott. The former Yorkshire and England opener comes in for some good-natured stick but when pressed Dickie confides that the pair are actually very close friends to this day, and he'd never say anything detrimental. The best all-rounder in history was Gary Sobers. The Queen drinks Campari and soda. The red ball should be used in all forms of the game. The DRS wicket review system should be consigned to the dustbin.
This was his first function in four years, something born out of his new association with Yorkshire cricket club, for whom he used to bat, and where he is now President.
He said: "After the stroke I was down and out. And to be made president of Yorkshire County Cricket Club has given me a new lease of life. I've felt a new man, a different man – it's done me the world of good."
And it shows.
