Ryan Sidebottom and Dickie Bird honoured by Yorkshire

The stalwarts won the sporting achievement and lifetime achievement prizes respectively at the Yorkshire Awards, which recognise individuals who have demonstrated their affection for and commitment to the county.

Left-armer Sidebottom was one of the most recognisable sights on the international and county cricket circuit for two decades but last month called time on his playing career.

The 39-year-old former England bowler picked up his award at a glittering ceremony hosted by the Hilton Leeds City Hotel.

"It's a great honour and I'm humbled and delighted to win this award," said Sidebottom.

"It's a reflection on my career, I guess, but you don't think about this kind of thing during your career. Instead you just try to contribute to the team, try to be a good guy and pass on your knowledge when you can.

"I've represented Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and England with pride. To win things along the way has been nice and at a time like this you think about all the people who have helped you along the way.

"At the start, if you had said to me that I would have had the career I have, I would have snapped that up.

"I remember being at school in Huddersfield and looking out of the window and dreaming about being a professional cricketer. The fact that I've had the career I have had makes me very grateful."

Meanwhile, Bird – one of Britain's best-loved characters – was presented with the award for his services to sport and charity.

The 84-year-old, who played for Yorkshire and Leicestershire before umpiring 66 Tests and 69 one day internationals – including three World Cup finals – said: "What a buzz to have been presented with this award.

"I am over the moon. It is a tremendous honour and privilege. I'm delighted and it feels extra special that it is a Yorkshire Award because my home county means so much to me.

"Yorkshire is wonderful, the people are the salt of the earth, and I have always enjoyed living and working in this great county."

Bird already has an exhaustive list of accolades to his name, including an MBE, OBE, honorary doctorates from Huddersfield, Leeds and Sheffield Hallam Universities, the Freedom of Barnsley and a six-foot bronze statue near his birthplace in the town.

As well as the three World Cup finals, he said another stand-out moment in his life was his presidency of Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 2014 – and celebrating two back-to-back County Championships.

Famous for his passion for the game, as well as his trademark tears, he has appeared on a multitude of chat shows, Desert Island Discs and was presented with the big red book on This is Your Life back in 1992.

His 1997 autobiography is one of the biggest-selling sports books of all time.

The award was sponsored by Leeds Beckett University and Simon Baldwin, from the awards committee, said: "Dickie Bird is the world's most decorated and recognisable cricket umpire, with his reputation for fairness winning him unrivalled respect among players of all sides.

"He continues to be a great ambassador for Yorkshire and is a worthy recipient of the lifetime achievement award."

Born into a mining family, Harold Dennis Bird was given the nickname Dickie at school and, after his ambitions to become a footballer were thwarted by a knee injury, he went on to become a first-class batsman and then one of the most celebrated cricket umpires in the game's history.

He retired in 1996 and now devotes much of his time to charity work, setting up the Dickie Bird Foundation in 2004, which gives grants to under-privileged children to help them achieve their potential in sport.