Henry Blofeld leaving TMS is a sad day for fans of cricket as well as pigeons

Legendary cricket commentator Henry Blofeld has announced he is retiring from the BBC’s Test Match Special after 45 years, much to the disappointment of his many fans.

Blofeld, known also as Blowers, joined TMS in 1972 after a brief innings in banking, and has perhaps become best known for his amusing observations of pigeons and buses going by during cricket’s abundant lulls.

The 77-year-old’s voice is synonymous with the British summer, his tones drifting through living rooms, kitchens and more on lazy afternoons as England bat and bowl.

Blofeld’s most famous and frequent utterance was to refer to his colleagues as “My dear old thing” – they’ll certainly miss his presence in the commentary booth.

Blofeld never reached the cricketing heights that TMS contributors Michael Vaughan and Geoffrey Boycott did, but he did play first-class cricket for Cambridge University in the 1950s.

“Listeners will now be relieved to know that their chances of being told the right name of the fielders at third man and fine leg have greatly increased,” Blofeld said in a statement.

Blofeld’s final broadcast with TMS will come during England’s third test against the West Indies at Lord’s starting on September 7 – the listeners and the pigeons will miss him greatly.