Trustees

Harold Dennis ‘Dickie’ Bird OBE, President of the Foundation.

His sporting career, both with YorkshireCCC and Leicestershire CCC and his achievements as an umpire are well documented. Dickie is known and held in great esteem throughout the world for his honesty and integrity. He understands the problems of children who find themselves in financially strained domestic circumstances. He has as his ambition to ensure every young person in the country has equal opportunity to take part in the sport of their choice, irrespective of their background or upbringing.


Warren Edward (Ted) Cowley

Born and educated in Leeds. Qualified as a member of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants in 1972 and admitted as a Fellow in 1977. From 1968 to retirement in 2012 gained varied and extensive financial experience with KPMG.

Previous charity work has included Committee membership of Leeds Mind where various successful fund raising initiatives were undertaken.

A keen participator in sports, including cycle racing when younger. Currently regularly attending gymnasium, playing badminton and recently completed Yorkshire Three Peaks walk for charity.


Richard Walton

Born in Canterbury but informative years were spent in Gloucestershire .After leaving Newcastle Upon Tyne Polytechnic l spent my entire working life in Transport Management both here in the UK and the Middle East. Married with 4 children l love all forms of sport and have coached at junior level in football and cricket. Presently on the committee at Otley cricket club .l am delighted to have been asked to become a trustee of the Dickie Bird Foundation.


Peter Mason

Peter Mason is the Director of Mood Developments in Leeds which has won awards for its developments in Kirkgate, Leeds.  He went to Bradford Grammar School and then Sussex University and then worked in North Africa, Germany and France before returning to Yorkshire in 1998.  He is an enthusiastic supporter of grassroots cricket and children’s participation in sports.


Rupert Jones

Born in the Milne Bay region of Papua New Guinea to an Australian dad from near Brisbane & a mum from Otley . Both were Anglican missionaries.

Was schooled at Manston Middle & Abbey Grange. After teacher training in Sheffield I got a job through the British council in Botswana.

I loved Botswana so much that I didn’t return for 12 years. It took the tragic death of my wife after a long illness to make me return with my then 18 month old son Douglas in 1997.

My lifelong loves are chess & cricket. Both passions acquired as a 9 year old in PNG. I ran Botswana chess for 11 years; today chess is one of Botswana’s top 4 sports. For 12 years I was secretary of the world chess federation’s Development Commission & in the early 2000’s the English chess federations international director. This meant I oversaw the National team at 2 chess Olympiads & 1 European team championship.

I formed White Rose chess which (1997) in the British national league; we won the first running of the online national league in July & am currently Vice President of the Yorkshire chess association.

I still play cricket at age 59. I call it retirement cricket with St George’s who play at Harewood having previously played in England for Olicanian CC & Hunslet Nelson. In Botswana I played at Gaborone CC. I am currently v chair of Pool CC in the Airedale Wharfedale League.

I am retired & live in Pool in Wharfedale near Otley.