Glowing tributes to Smith

SCOTTISH cricket is in mourning following the death of Bill Smith, arguably the greatest and most respected umpire the country has ever produced.

Bill, 79, the doyen of Scottish cricket umpires, passed away peacefully on Thursday at his home in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

In 1999 the England and Wales Cricket Board appointed Bill to officiate at the Scotland v Surrey Nat West cup-tie, followed by one in Holland and was nominated by Scotland to stand in the World Cup in the same year, where he stood in warm-up matches and was a fourth umpire in the main competition.

Other highlights in a long and distinguished umpiring career, which spanned more than 40 years, included umpiring the 1997 ICC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur, and then returned to Malaysia in 1998 as Scotland’s representative on the umpiring panel at the Commonwealth Games. Also in 1998, he umpired the European Championship final.

But possibly the highlight of his umpiring career came in 2002 when he, and his great friend Mac Wylie, were appointed to stand in the National Village Cup Final at Lords, the first two Scottish umpires to officiate at the home of world cricket. A lifelong member of the Kelburne club in Paisley, he was also a former member of the Scottish Cricket Union Committee and a regular supporter of his beloved St Mirren FC.

He is survived by his widow Lorna and son David.