Sir Michael Parkinson has agree to speak at a fund raising dinner on behalf of our Foundation.

The dinner will be held at the Met Hotel  Leeds on the 30th September 2010, with places limited to 200.Lea Roberts (comedian) will also be entertaining you on the night. 

Bookings will be on a first come first served basis.Enquiries for the dinner and booking form can be obtained by email from les@dickiebirdmbe.co.uk or calling 07904-440367.

In our December meeting the Trustees awarded grants of  over £800.

Our February Meeting was even better with £1,200 given in grants.

The mother of one of our grantees has informed us that her son, a talented badminton player is in with a chance of representing Scotland in the next Commonwealth Games. This his mum says is all down to the grant he was awarded that allowed him to continue his progress.

Well done goes to Duncan for his efforts and our best wishes. 

The Foundation will be operating a stand for all 5 days of the Test. Why not pop in and say hello. Trustees will be available for help and  advice. There will be several items for sale, on each of the days, Dickie will be popping in from time to time to answer questions, take photographs and  sign any of his books you may have purchased.

Remember any purchase you make at our stand will be helping towards grant for financially disadvantaged children.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Edward Bullock plays for the under 16 team at Bradford City FC was looking for help to finance his clothing and equipment to progress his career with the club.

Edwards father John applied to the Dickie Bird Foundation for help in the form of a grant,  

The Foundation contacted Bradford City Supporters Trust, who were more than happy to fund the grant application. 

Eric Stephens from the Foundation and Mike Thompson from the supporters trust made the presentation  at half time at  the Bradford City V Rotherham United game

. Dickie expressed his regret that due to another appointment he was unable to attend

Edward is hoping to gain a full youth contract with Bradford. What a nice Christmas present that would be for him.

Dickie and all of us at the Foundation along with our friends from the supporters trust wish Edward the best of luck, and will watch with interest his progress over the next few years.

On the 14th November with the kind permission of Cedar Court Hotels and CW Harrison a charity auction on behalf of the Dickie Bird Foundation will be held at Cedar Court Hotel Denby Dale Road, Calder Grove, Wakefield. WF4 3QZ

There are 63 lots of collectable sporting and celebrity items on offer, the items can be viewed from 10.00am on the morning of the sale with the auction starting at 11.00am.

You can also view the items and download a catalogue by logging on to www.cwharrison.com

Refreshments are available from the hotel bar.

Further information can be obtained from CW Harrison & son or the Dickie Bird Foundation.

 This is a copy article from a local Huddersfield newspaper, sent in by the parents of young Josh:

A Golcar footballer can go for goal thanks to a £400 donation.

Josh Kilburn received the grant to help him fulfil his abition of playing football.Josh,15, currently plays at the Halifax Town AFC school of excellence and the money will help kit him out for the next season.

The money came from the Dickie Bird Foundation, a charity set up by the legendary cricket umpire to help sporting youngsters.

Proud mum Gillian Kilburn said: "It’s brilliant he’s got this grant because its quite expensive to get him the boots and the kit. "He’s been playing football since he was about six and he justs loves all sports including cricket."I hope he’s got a future playing football, it’s something he enjoys".

Josh, a year 11 pupil at Colne Valley High School, is spending his summer holidays assisting an electrician. A profession he is keen to learn more about.

Cricketer Dickie Bird said:"I am delighted to help Josh and look forward to following his progress. " I can remember all too vividly from my humble beginnings just how difficult it was to afford things like football boots and cricket boots-they were considered luxuries.

"Many of today’s generation of youngsters are, I believe, missing out on sporting opportunities because they cannot afford the costs."

 The following grants have been issued by the Foundation:

Mathew               13          Bristol                              Kick Boxing              £135

Duncan               14         Cambletown                   Badminton                £400

Joshua                15         Somerset                        Cricket                       £350

Anthony               10         Sydenham                      Gymastics                  £250

Holly                    15          Leatherhead                  Football                      £350

Haydn                  12         Sale                                 Golf                             £450

Hannah               11         Grantham                       Table Tennis             £300

We wish them every success.

 Dickie along with our Trustees would like to offer our thanks to the officials,players and supporters of the club for their invitation to visit them on the 6th Sept.for their fun day event.

Some of the events on the day will stay with me for a long time, firstly the Lancashire style hot pot served for lunch, second the sight of one  of the umpires standing at the wicket with his umbrella aloft, during a prolonged downpour.This in it’s self was the cause of a little leg pulling.(He was a Trustee of our Foundation,alas not Dickie).

Special thanks goes to Vikki McGuinness for the way she looked after us  and her organisational skills on the day.

Look forward to going for a second visit.

Les Smith

Many tributes will no doubt be paid to a great footballer and football manager and to a wonderful man. Additionally, the Dickie Bird Foundation will remember Sir Bobby as a Founding Patron of the Foundation in 2004 and for the support and friendship he gave to Dickie in its formation.

“The world has lost a great man and I have lost a great friend” said Dickie.

Very few achieve the universal adulation Sir Bobby enjoyed. Our thoughts go to his family and friends.

 Hi Les

            Hope everyone is well. Just to let you know Daniel returned back home today, after a week in Leicester competing at the Special Olympics National Summer Games, winning a Silver medal in Dressage, a Bronze medal in Working Trails Test, and a 4^th place ribbon for his Horse-Care and Knowledge.